Explore thousands of years of imperial Chinese history on this thoughtfully curated 12-day discovery tour, which stops at six of China’s most iconic ancient capitals: Beijing, Xi’an, Luoyang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. This handpicked itinerary is built to deliver rich historical and cultural insight at an unbeatable value, with trusted, secure payment processes that let you focus on enjoying your journey across China’s most historic regions without extra stress.
This 12-day curated journey winds through northern, central and eastern China, starting in China’s current imperial capital Beijing, moving west to the ancient Terracotta capital Xi’an via the Buddhist art hub Luoyang, traveling east to the modern historic capital Nanjing, stopping at the scenic lakeside cultural city Hangzhou, and ending in China’s dynamic modern metropolis Shanghai. You’ll travel between cities via China’s world-class high-speed rail, visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites and local hidden gems alike to piece together the full, rich story of China’s millennia of history.
Today is your arrival day in bustling Beijing! You’ll check into your accommodation and have the rest of the day free to settle in, wander nearby neighborhoods, or grab your first taste of iconic Beijing street food ahead of your 11 days of adventure. 🏨
Today we head out of the city to one of the world’s most famous landmarks: the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. You’ll ride a private round-trip bus directly from your hotel to the site, and spend the day exploring the beautifully preserved, less crowded restored wall sections, hiking along ancient battlements and soaking in sweeping mountain views. 🍽️ Breakfast is included to fuel your day of exploration.
We soak in the heart of imperial Beijing before heading south today! We’ll walk through sprawling Tiananmen Square, then step inside the Forbidden City—centuries-old home to Chinese emperors—on a guided walking tour of central Beijing’s most historic core. All local public transport around the city is included for our day of sightseeing, after which we’ll board our transport to Zhengzhou to continue our journey. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
Today we explore Luoyang’s top cultural gems before traveling on to Xi’an. First, we visit the legendary Shaolin Monastery, birthplace of Shaolin Kungfu, where we’ll watch a thrilling traditional Kungfu performance by resident monks, then wander through the serene Pagoda Forest, a sprawling ancient cemetery of historic monastic pagodas. Next, we explore the UNESCO-listed Longmen Grottoes, thousands of stunning Buddhist carvings cut into riverside cliffs, with a guided tour of the site. 🍽️ Breakfast and an innovative Buddhist vegetarian feast lunch at Yongtai Temple are included before we depart for Xi’an.
We get to know the historic imperial capital of Xi’an on foot today. We’ll stroll through the lively, food-filled Muslim Quarter, a centuries-old historic neighborhood packed with street vendors and traditional shops, then walk along Xi’an famous intact ancient city walls, exploring the historic gates that once protected the city. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today, plus a group dinner in the Muslim Quarter as part of your tour.
Today we visit Xi’an’s most iconic attraction: the Terracotta Warriors! We’ll ride a private bus from the city center out to the archaeological site, where a guided tour will take you through all three main excavation pits, where thousands of life-sized warrior statues have stood guard over the First Emperor of China for more than 2,000 years. After our tour, we’ll board our transport to Nanjing for the next leg of the journey. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
We spend the day exploring Nanjing’s rich layers of ancient and modern history on a full city tour. Our stops include Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, the memorial to the founding father of modern China set on scenic Purple Mountain, followed by a visit to Nanjing Museum, home to thousands of priceless cultural artifacts spanning thousands of years of Chinese history. We end the day at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, a moving memorial honoring the victims of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
We travel via comfortable high-speed train from Nanjing to the scenic lakeside city of Hangzhou today. Once we arrive, we’ll take a relaxing boat cruise across iconic West Lake—Hangzhou’s most famous attraction, which has inspired Chinese artists and poets for centuries. 🍽️ Breakfast and a delicious traditional Hangzhou-style lunch served right in the heart of West Lake are included.
Today we dive into Hangzhou’s most famous cultural tradition: Longjing tea! We’ll head to the scenic hillside Longjing Tea Village, where you’ll get a hands-on lesson in picking fresh tea leaves right on a working tea farm. After picking, we’ll sit down to taste a cup of freshly brewed premium Longjing tea, one of China’s most celebrated teas. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
We board a sleek high-speed bullet train from Hangzhou east to Shanghai, China’s most dynamic modern metropolis, today. You’ll settle into your accommodation and have the evening free to explore the city’s famous skyline or grab a pre-tour snack. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
We explore Shanghai’s perfect mix of history and modernity today. We start with a walking tour of historic Shanghai, visiting the iconic Bund—lined with art-deco colonial buildings overlooking the futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River. We’ll ride the local subway to get around like a Shanghai local, before ending our day at the stunning classical Yuyuan Gardens in the heart of old Shanghai. 🍽️ Breakfast and a farewell dinner featuring classic Shanghai specialties are included to cap off your trip.
Today is your departure day from Shanghai! After a leisurely included breakfast, you’ll check out of your accommodation and head to the airport or train station for your onward journey, taking with you memories of thousands of years of Chinese history and culture. 🍽️ Breakfast is included today.
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 19, 2026
Hangzhou’s West Lake was such a lovely, calming break after visiting all the busy imperial sites in the other cities. The pace of the tour is perfectly balanced between busy sightseeing days and slower afternoons to explore on your own. I can’t think of a better way to see all of these incredible ancient capitals in one trip.
March 11, 2026
The curation of this tour is really what sets it apart. Instead of bouncing around randomly between cities, the route flows perfectly and gives you a complete picture of Chinese imperial history across millennia.
January 22, 2026
Our consultant Lynn from HelloChinaTrip helped adjust our hotel preferences before the trip even started, which made the whole experience completely seamless. Visiting all six ancient capitals in order let us trace the rise and fall of different dynasties chronologically, which made the history feel far more connected and easy to follow. Each local guide was incredibly knowledgeable and happy to answer all of our endless questions about everything from terracotta warriors to Confucian traditions. This is easily the best organized historical tour I’ve ever joined.
October 5, 2025
I’ve wanted to visit Xi’an and Beijing for years, and this tour let me see so much more beyond those two iconic stops.
June 20, 2025
I went on this tour with my teenage kids who love history, and every single one of them was engaged the entire time. Luoyang’s Longmen Grottoes and Nanjing’s ancient city walls were unexpected highlights that I almost skipped if I had planned a trip on my own. The 12 days felt long enough to really soak in each city without feeling rushed or overly packed. We left with a new appreciation for just how deep and rich China’s history is.
April 30, 2025
The itinerary and guides were absolutely fantastic, but I traveled during the May holiday and most major sites were far more wonderful than I expected. The extra crowds made it a little harder to take photos and enjoy each spot at my own pace. I’d still recommend the tour to anyone, just book outside of peak Chinese holiday seasons if you can.
March 12, 2025
This 12-day tour was the perfect way to see China’s most historic sites, I’d book it again in a heartbeat.
February 14, 2025
As a history teacher, I’ve been planning a trip like this for years and this tour exceeded all my expectations. Each guide had specialized knowledge of their city’s specific history, and they shared little known stories that made every site feel alive. I loved getting to compare the different imperial architectural styles across each capital, from Beijing’s Forbidden City to Xi’an’s ancient city walls. The transportation between cities was well organized and always on time, which made hopping between six different cities feel effortless. If you’re even a little bit interested in Chinese history, this tour is an absolute must-book.
December 30, 2024
Every detail was taken care of, this was the most stress-free international trip I’ve ever taken.
December 18, 2024
Every stop on this itinerary felt intentional, no rushed sightseeing or filler activities. I learned so much about thousands of years of Chinese imperial history that I never got from textbooks.
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