Emma Davis
April 30, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 13-day fully private, custom-tailored tour brings you the ultimate best-of-China experience, centered on two of the country’s most iconic must-dos: exploring the legendary Great Wall in Beijing and cruising the breathtaking Yangtze River, while also stopping at top destinations including Xi’an, Guilin, Chongqing, and Shanghai. Curated to showcase the very best of China’s history, natural scenery and vibrant culture, this thoughtfully planned trip delivers fantastic value with unbeatable pricing and trusted, secure payment processing for a stress-free, fully personalized travel adventure.
This journey starts in the ancient imperial capital of Beijing, where you’ll explore world-famous royal landmarks before heading west to Xi’an, home of the legendary Terracotta Warriors. From there you’ll travel south to Guilin and Yangshuo to cruise the iconic karst-lined Li River, then north to Chongqing to board your 2-day Yangtze River cruise through the dramatic Three Gorges. After a tour of the monumental Three Gorges Dam, you’ll end your trip in dynamic, modern Shanghai. The route is designed to showcase every side of China, from ancient history to natural beauty to 21st-century energy, all tailored to your preferences.
Today marks your arrival in Beijing, China’s buzzing capital steeped in imperial history. Your private guide will meet you at the airport and help you get settled into your accommodation, leaving you free to relax after your journey and prep for the adventures ahead. 🏨 Overnight in Beijing
Kick off your exploration with a morning visit to iconic Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public city square, before stepping into the Forbidden City—China’s imperial palace for 500 years, filled with ornate palaces, hidden courtyards, and centuries of history. In the afternoon, you’ll wander the lush, lake-front grounds of the Summer Palace, a favorite royal retreat dotted with historic pavilions and classic Chinese gardens. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch included | 🏨 Overnight in Beijing
Leave Beijing’s city bustle behind today for a trip to one of the most beautiful, well-preserved sections of the Great Wall: Mutianyu. Stroll or hike along the ancient stone ramparts, taking in sweeping views of the wall winding through misty green mountains. After your Great Wall experience, you’ll visit Changling Tomb, the largest and best preserved of the Ming Dynasty imperial burial grounds, to learn about ancient Chinese imperial funeral traditions. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch included | 🏨 Overnight in Beijing
Before departing Beijing for Xi’an, you’ll fit in two more beloved local experiences. Start with a morning visit to the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors once prayed for bountiful harvests, set in a sprawling, peaceful city park. Next, take a fun rickshaw ride through the narrow alleyways of a traditional Beijing hutong, getting a glimpse into generations-old local life. After your activities, you’ll travel to Xi’an, the ancient capital of 13 Chinese dynasties. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch included | 🏨 Overnight in Xi'an
Today is dedicated to Xi’an’s most famous historic treasures. First, you’ll visit the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers and horses built to guard the first emperor of China over 2,000 years ago. Next, head to Xi’an’s perfectly preserved Ancient City Wall, where you can walk or bike along the top for panoramic views of the city. End your day wandering the bustling Muslim Quarter, a lively historic neighborhood packed with delicious street food and unique local crafts. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch included | 🏨 Overnight in Xi'an
After breakfast, you’ll travel from Xi’an to Guilin, the scenic southern city famous for its dramatic karst mountain landscapes. Once you arrive, you’ll explore Reed Flute Cave, a magical natural limestone cave filled with otherworldly rock formations, stalactites, and stalagmites illuminated with colorful lighting. 🍽️ Breakfast included | 🏨 Overnight in Guilin
Today you’ll experience one of China’s most iconic scenic adventures: a full cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo. Glide slowly down the quiet river as dramatic, jagged karst peaks rise around you—this is the legendary scenery that has inspired Chinese painters and poets for centuries. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch included | 🏨 Overnight in Yangshuo
After breakfast, you’ll leave Yangshuo’s scenic countryside and travel to Chongqing, a bustling mountain city perched on the banks of the upper Yangtze River. Settle into your accommodation and relax as you prep for your upcoming river cruise. 🍽️ Breakfast included | 🏨 Overnight in Chongqing
Today you’ll board your scenic Yangtze River cruise and set sail through the famous Three Gorges. Spend the day relaxing on the open deck, soaking in ever-changing views of steep green gorges, quiet riverside villages, and rolling hills along the water. 🍽️ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included | 🏨 Overnight on the Yangtze River cruise ship
Your leisurely Yangtze River cruise continues today. Join optional shore excursions to explore hidden ancient sites along the river, or simply kick back and enjoy the stunning scenery from the comfort of your ship. 🍽️ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included | 🏨 Overnight on the Yangtze River cruise ship
Your cruise ends in Yichang, where you’ll tour the incredible Three Gorges Dam, one of the world’s largest and most impressive engineering projects, to learn about its history and impact. After your tour, you’ll travel on to Shanghai, China’s most vibrant modern metropolis. 🍽️ Breakfast included | 🏨 Overnight in Shanghai
Explore the best of Shanghai’s blend of old and new today. Start at the Shanghai Museum, home to one of the world’s largest collections of ancient Chinese art and artifacts. Next, wander through the classic Yu Garden, a stunning traditional Chinese garden surrounded by bustling old-town shopping streets. In the afternoon, stroll the tree-lined boulevards of the Former French Concession, filled with historic colonial architecture and trendy cafes, before ending your day at The Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront with unbeatable views of the city’s futuristic skyline across the river. 🍽️ Breakfast and lunch included | 🏨 Overnight in Shanghai
After breakfast, your private guide will escort you to the airport for your departure, bringing your 13-day China adventure to a close. 🍽️ Breakfast included
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 30, 2026
I’ve wanted to visit China for decades, and this tour exceeded every single expectation I had. Being fully private meant we could spend as much time as we wanted at each spot, instead of being herded along with a huge tour group. Walking the Great Wall, seeing the Terracotta Warriors up close, cruising the Yangtze, and eating delicious local food across every city—this trip has every iconic experience you could want. I’m already planning my next return trip to explore more with the same team.
February 14, 2026
This is the perfect stress-free way to see all of China's top highlights without planning every detail yourself.
November 3, 2025
This 13-day itinerary is perfectly paced, you get to see all the major highlights without feeling like you’re rushing from one place to the next. The Yangtze cruise portion is such a lovely break, letting you relax and take in beautiful river scenery after exploring busy cities. It really is the ultimate best-of-China experience.
July 22, 2025
Every detail, from hotels to transport to entry tickets, was taken care of so we could just focus on enjoying our trip.
May 2, 2025
Every part of the itinerary planning and on-the-ground service was absolutely flawless. We happened to book our trip for a national holiday week, so the Great Wall and Xi'an Terracotta Army were much more wonderful than we anticipated. It's still an incredible trip, just plan ahead to avoid peak travel seasons if you can.
April 17, 2025
We traveled with our two teenage kids, and the schedule was perfectly balanced between sightseeing and downtime. The Li River cruise in Guilin took my breath away—those karst mountain views are even more stunning in person than photos. This private tour was worth every single penny.
March 12, 2025
This 13-day private tour was absolutely the best trip my family has ever taken.
January 19, 2025
Lynn from HelloChinaTrip helped us tailor this entire itinerary when we reached out with specific requests: we wanted extra food stops in Xi'an and a sunrise trip to the Great Wall, and she accommodated every change we asked for. Private drivers were always on time, every guide spoke fluent English and shared local stories you'd never find in a guidebook. The Yangtze cruise was the perfect relaxing break after days of sightseeing, with stunning views from our private balcony. This trip checked every box on our China bucket list and I can't recommend it highly enough.
December 28, 2024
Every stop was perfectly tailored to what we wanted to see, no rushed schedules like crowded group tours. Our local guide in each city was knowledgeable and friendly, and the Yangtze cruise was far more luxurious than we expected. Exploring the Great Wall with just our small group was an unforgettable dream.
