Clara Rodriguez
May 12, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
Experience the very best of China on this action-packed 11-day complete tour, which visits four of the nation’s most iconic destinations: culturally rich Beijing and ancient Xi’an, breathtakingly scenic Guilin, and dynamic cosmopolitan Shanghai. Carefully curated to showcase the full diversity of China’s top highlights, this well-rounded itinerary delivers unbeatable value, with trusted, secure payment options that give you total peace of mind when booking your trip.
This 11-day curated journey starts in the ancient imperial capital of Beijing, where you’ll dive into dynastic history and explore China’s most famous royal landmarks. From Beijing, you’ll travel west to Xi’an, the cradle of Chinese civilization and home to the legendary Terracotta Army, before heading south to Guilin — China’s scenic gem famous for its misty karst mountains and winding Li River. Your trip wraps up in dynamic, global Shanghai, where centuries-old traditional neighborhoods stand alongside sparkling modern skyscrapers. This route is carefully designed to give you a complete, well-rounded introduction to China, balancing iconic sights with authentic local encounters.
Today you’ll arrive in China’s buzzing capital and check into your hotel 🏨 to settle in after your travels. The rest of the day is free for you to explore your neighborhood, grab your first taste of Beijing street food, or simply rest and get ready for the days of adventure ahead.
Kick off your first full day of exploration with a 2-3 hour guided tour of sprawling Tiananmen Square, the political and cultural heart of modern Beijing, before stepping into the Forbidden City — the centuries-old walled compound that served as the home of Chinese emperors for hundreds of years. After exploring the palace grounds, you’ll visit the tranquil Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once held annual worship ceremonies. 🍽️ You’ll enjoy a lunch of authentic local Beijing cuisine at a nearby neighborhood restaurant. When evening falls, cap off your day with a thrilling acrobatic performance at Beijing’s iconic Red Theater. 🏨 Overnight in Beijing.
Today you’ll visit one of the world’s greatest wonders: the Great Wall of China, at the scenic, less crowded Mutianyu section. You’ll ride a round-trip cable car up to the wall to save your energy for exploring the ancient battlements, which snake across misty mountain peaks as far as the eye can see. After wandering the wall, celebrate your visit with a group toast of red wine with your fellow travelers, then stop for photos outside the iconic Olympic National Stadium (the Bird’s Nest) before heading back to the city. 🍽️ Breakfast and a buffet lunch are included today. 🏨 Overnight in Beijing.
Before departing Beijing for Xi’an, you’ll visit the Summer Palace, the lush lakeside retreat where Qing Dynasty emperors escaped the summer heat. Wander past ancient pavilions, across historic stone bridges, and along the iconic covered promenade, soaking in the tranquil beauty of this royal escape. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch are included today, before you travel to Xi’an and check into your accommodation 🏨 for the night.
Dive into 2,000 years of ancient Chinese history with a full day exploring Xi’an’s most iconic landmark: the Terracotta Army. You’ll tour the world-famous museum that houses thousands of life-size clay warriors built to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, then visit the family home of the local farmer who first discovered the legendary warriors. Next, try your hand at a traditional craft: you’ll create your own mini clay warrior alongside a local artisan, to take home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir. End your day with a visit to the 7th-century Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a historic Buddhist landmark that once housed ancient scriptures brought back from India. 🍽️ Breakfast, a local lunch at a neighborhood restaurant, and a traditional Xi’an dumpling dinner are included today. 🏨 Overnight in Xi'an.
Start your day slowly with a gentle Tai Chi practice in Xi’an’s City Wall Park, led by a local instructor. After your practice, you’ll climb up to the top of Xi’an incredibly well-preserved ancient city wall, where you can take in panoramic views of the entire city. Next, wander through the lively, fragrant Muslim Quarter, Xi’an’s historic hub of Islamic culture packed with street food stalls and artisan shops. End your day with a visit to the 1,000-year-old Great Mosque, a unique landmark that blends traditional Chinese and Islamic architecture. 🍽️ Breakfast and an a la carte lunch of local Xi’an specialties in the Muslim Quarter are included today. 🏨 Overnight in Xi'an.
After breakfast, you’ll travel from Xi’an to Guilin, the scenic southern city famous for its otherworldly karst mountain landscapes. Once you arrive, you’ll explore two of Guilin’s most iconic natural sights: first, Reed Flute Cave, a stunning limestone cave filled with dramatic, otherworldly rock formations. Next, you’ll visit Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin’s most recognizable landmark — a natural rock formation that looks just like an elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today. 🏨 Overnight in Guilin.
Today you’ll experience the iconic scenery that has inspired Chinese painters for centuries: a full scenic cruise along the Li River, from Guilin downstream to the charming town of Yangshuo. As you glide across the misty river, you’ll pass dramatic karst peaks rising straight from the water on all sides. 🍽️ Breakfast is included, and you’ll enjoy a simple Chinese box lunch for lunch right on the cruise. Once you dock in Yangshuo, you’ll stroll along lively West Street, Yangshuo’s popular pedestrian hub, then visit a local villager’s home in the quiet Yangshuo countryside to get a glimpse of daily rural life in southern China. After your visit, you’ll head back to Guilin for the night. 🏨 Overnight in Guilin.
After breakfast, you’ll travel from scenic Guilin to China’s dynamic global metropolis, Shanghai. Settle into your hotel 🏨 when you arrive, and enjoy the rest of the day free to explore your surroundings, grab a coffee, or catch your first glimpse of Shanghai’s famous skyline. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
Get a full taste of Shanghai’s perfect mix of old and new today. Start at the Shanghai Museum, one of China’s best museums, where you can browse thousands of years of Chinese art and artifacts spanning every dynasty. Next, wander through the classic Yu Garden, a tranquil traditional Chinese garden dating back to the Ming Dynasty, and browse the bustling traditional bazaar surrounding the garden for snacks and souvenirs. In the evening, stroll along the historic Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront lined with colonial-era architecture, opposite the sparkling skyscraper skyline of Pudong. End your day with a relaxing one-hour cruise along the Huangpu River, taking in panoramic views of the city. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today. 🏨 Overnight in Shanghai.
Today marks the end of your China adventure! After breakfast, you’ll check out of your hotel and head to the airport for your departure flight, taking home endless memories of your journey across China. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
May 12, 2026
I went on this tour with my adult daughter and we both had the most incredible time from start to finish. Every transfer between cities was smooth, and our local guides all took time to answer all our questions about daily life in modern China as well as the history of each site. We loved that the itinerary balanced busy city sightseeing with slower, relaxing time enjoying the natural scenery in Guilin. This is easily the best organized international tour I have ever joined, and I already recommend it to all my friends who want to visit China.
April 2, 2026
As someone who loves both history and nature, this tour checked every box on my travel list. Beijing’s Forbidden City and Xi’an’s Terracotta Army left me speechless, and the views along the Li River in Guilin were even more beautiful than the photos I’d seen. The pace was just right, never too rushed but we got to see so much over the 11 days.
January 14, 2026
I can’t imagine a better introduction to China than this perfectly planned 11-day tour.
November 5, 2025
I worked with Will from HelloChinaTrip to book this tour and he was so helpful adjusting a few small stops to fit my interest in traditional Chinese architecture. Every guide in each city was incredibly knowledgeable, and they added so much context to the historical sites that I never would have gotten just wandering on my own. My favorite part of the whole trip was the early morning bamboo raft ride in Guilin, where the mist over the karst peaks looked like something out of a painting. This is the best way to see all of China’s top highlights in a short amount of time without cutting corners.
March 22, 2025
We booked this tour during spring break which ended up being peak travel season for many of the sites, so the crowds were a bit more overwhelming than we expected. All the scheduled stops were well-organized and we got to see every highlight we’d hoped to, from the Great Wall to the Li River cruise. The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is how busy popular attractions were during this time of year, which is totally a timing issue on our end not the tour’s fault. The landscapes in Guilin alone were worth the trip, and I’d absolutely recommend this tour to anyone traveling outside of peak holiday windows.
February 10, 2025
Getting to see all four iconic spots in 11 days without the stress of planning everything ourselves was perfect. The mix of ancient imperial history in Beijing and Xi’an, stunning karst scenery in Guilin, and modern Shanghai skyline made this an incredibly well-rounded trip.
December 18, 2024
This 11-day complete China tour exceeded every one of my travel expectations!
