Benjamin Hughes
April 21, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 13-day premium private customizable tour curates the absolute best of China’s iconic attractions, taking you from the world-famous Great Wall in Beijing and ancient historical sites in Xi’an to Guilin’s dramatic karst scenery, vibrant modern Shanghai, and a scenic cruise along the majestic Yangtze River. Designed for travelers seeking a seamless premium experience, this handpicked itinerary offers unbeatable pricing and secure, trusted payments, letting you explore China’s top highlights on your own fully tailored terms.
This 13-day premium private journey takes you across China from the ancient imperial north to the modern cosmopolitan east, weaving together millennia of history, jaw-dropping natural landscapes, and contemporary Chinese culture. You’ll start exploring centuries-old imperial landmarks in Beijing, then travel to Xi’an to uncover 2,000-year-old ancient treasures, before heading south to soak up Guilin and Yangshuo’s otherworldly karst mountain scenery. From Chongqing you’ll board a scenic Yangtze River cruise to experience the beauty of the Three Gorges, then finish your adventure exploring dynamic, modern Shanghai — hitting every unmissable highlight of China without the hassle of independent planning.
Your 13-day Chinese adventure kicks off as you touch down in Beijing, where your private guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your central city hotel. Take the rest of the evening to settle in after your journey, explore your neighborhood, sample local street snacks if you’re feeling adventurous, or rest up for the exciting days ahead. 🏨
Today you dive headfirst into Beijing’s imperial history. You’ll first walk across the iconic, sprawling Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of modern Beijing, before stepping into the 600-year-old Forbidden City — the once-off-limits palace compound where Chinese emperors ruled for centuries. After exploring the palace halls and gardens, you’ll head to the lush, lakeside Summer Palace, a former imperial retreat dotted with traditional pavilions and stunning rolling landscaping. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you check off China’s most iconic landmark: the Great Wall. You’ll explore the beautifully preserved, less crowded Mutianyu section, where you can hike (or ride the cable car) along ancient battlements with sweeping views of the wall snaking through forested mountains. After your wall adventure, you’ll visit Changling Tomb, the largest and best-preserved resting place of the Ming Dynasty emperors, tucked at the foot of the Yanshan Mountains. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Before leaving Beijing for your next stop, you’ll explore two more beloved local gems: the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors held grand annual ceremonies to pray for good harvests, famous for its stunning circular main hall and perfectly manicured grounds. After that, you’ll take a fun rickshaw ride through a traditional Beijing Hutong, the narrow, centuries-old alley neighborhoods that still hold authentic local life, getting a glimpse of how old Beijing feels. Then you’ll head to the train station for your journey to Xi’an, one of China’s four great ancient capitals. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you uncover Xi’an’s most famous ancient treasures. Your first stop is the world-famous Terracotta Warrior Army, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers and horses built to guard the tomb of the first emperor of Qin over 2,000 years ago — one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the modern world. After that, you’ll cycle or walk along the well-preserved 14-kilometer Ancient City Wall of Xi’an, with panoramic views of the city inside and out. End the day wandering the bustling Muslim Quarter, where you can browse traditional crafts and sample iconic local street snacks. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you travel south from Xi’an to Guilin, the scenic riverside city famous worldwide for its dramatic karst mountain landscape. Once you arrive and settle in, you’ll visit the enchanting Reed Flute Cave, a natural limestone cave filled with otherworldly stalactite and stalagmite formations, lit up to highlight their unique shapes, earning it the nickname the “Palace of Natural Art”. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
Today you experience the iconic Guilin scenery that has inspired Chinese artists for centuries, on a full-day scenic cruise along the Li River. You’ll drift slowly past jagged karst peaks rising straight from the river water, through bamboo forests and traditional riverside farming villages, with postcard-perfect views around every bend. At the end of the cruise, you’ll disembark in the charming small tourist town of Yangshuo, your stop for the night. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After a relaxed morning to wander Yangshuo’s pretty streets or explore the surrounding countryside at your own pace, you’ll travel west to Chongqing, the mountainous port city where you’ll board your Yangtze River cruise. Settle into the ship this evening, and get ready for two days of leisurely scenic cruising through the famous Three Gorges. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
Settle into a gentle, relaxing day on the water as your cruise ship glides through the stunning Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Spend your day on the open deck soaking up the ever-changing views of steep cliffs, lush green hillsides, and winding river bends, join optional onshore excursions to hidden scenic spots if you wish, or just relax with a drink and enjoy the quiet pace of river travel. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a second full day of scenic cruising along the Yangtze. Continue admiring the dramatic gorge scenery, join on-board cultural activities to learn more about local life along the river, or simply unwind as you take in one of China’s most famous natural wonders from the comfort of your ship. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your cruise ends at the port city of Yichang, where you’ll visit the world-famous Three Gorges Dam, one of the largest and most impressive engineering projects in the world, learning about its history and impact as you explore the site. After your visit, you’ll travel east to Shanghai, China’s most dynamic modern metropolis, to prepare for your final days of exploration. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
Today you explore the best of both old and new Shanghai. Start at the Shanghai Museum, home to one of the largest and most impressive collections of ancient Chinese art and artifacts in the country. Next, wander the traditional Yu Garden and surrounding old town, a lush classical Chinese garden dotted with pavilions and surrounded by bustling traditional markets. Then, stroll through the tree-lined streets of the Former French Concession, with its charming colonial-era architecture, trendy boutiques and cozy cafes, before ending the day at the iconic Bund, where you can gaze at the famous glowing skyline of Shanghai’s Pudong district across the Huangpu River. 🍽️ Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After your included breakfast this morning, your private driver will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to Shanghai’s airport for your departure flight, bringing your unforgettable 13-day Chinese adventure to a close. 🍽️ Included meal: Breakfast
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 21, 2026
I was nervous about visiting China for the first time, but this private tour made everything so easy and welcoming. Each city had a local guide who spoke perfect English and shared personal stories that made the history feel alive, instead of just reciting facts. I especially loved the slow pace of the Yangtze cruise after running around to see all the historical sites in Beijing and Xi’an; it was the perfect relaxing capstone to the trip. All the hotels were centrally located, clean, and comfortable, with breakfast that had both Western and Chinese options. If you’re looking for a premium, no-hassle way to see all of China’s top attractions, this is absolutely the tour to book.
March 14, 2026
My husband and I booked this tour for our 10th anniversary trip, and it exceeded every single one of our expectations. We loved that we could tweak the itinerary to spend more time in Guilin hiking, which the tour company accommodated with zero extra hassle. All the iconic spots were perfectly organized: we got to the Great Wall early to beat the heat and crowds, which made such a big difference. This is easily the best organized international trip we’ve ever taken, and we’ll be recommending it to all our friends.
January 19, 2026
Seeing the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall in one seamless trip was a dream come true.
November 8, 2025
The mix of modern Shanghai, ancient Beijing, and the stunning natural scenery in Guilin was the perfect introduction to China. Our guides were all great about adjusting the schedule when we wanted to stop for photos or try local snacks, which we really appreciated.
October 5, 2025
The private van we had for all our transfers meant we never had to wait for other groups or share space with strangers. Our guide in Xi’an even got us front-of-house access to a fantastic local dumpling dinner off the main tourist strip. The Yangtze cruise included great optional excursions that we could pick or skip based on how we felt that day.
May 10, 2025
Everything about the tour planning and service was perfect, but we visited during national holiday week so most sites were way more wonderful than we anticipated. It was still a wonderful trip, just a little more rushed at popular spots than we expected.
April 22, 2025
I worked with consultant Lynn from HelloChinaTrip to adjust our itinerary to add an extra day exploring Guilin’s countryside, and she made the whole process totally seamless. Every transfer was on time, our private guides knew so much hidden history not found in guidebooks, and the accommodations were all 5-star quality. The Great Wall section we visited was less crowded than the touristy parts, which made the experience so much more enjoyable. I can’t recommend this private tour enough for anyone who wants to see China’s best spots without the stress of planning.
March 12, 2025
This private tailored tour was absolutely the perfect way to see China’s top highlights.
December 27, 2024
Every detail was taken care of, making this a completely stress-free 13-day adventure.
December 18, 2024
Our guide in every city was knowledgeable, friendly, and always flexible to our pace. The Yangtze cruise leg was way more luxurious than I expected, with stunning views the whole time.
