14-Day Small-Group China Tour: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangtze Cruise, Shanghai

14-Day Small-Group China Tour: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangtze Cruise, Shanghai

By Travel China Guide

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Overview

This is a perfect China small group tour for you to experience the best of China. Visiting Beijing and Xi'an, two world-renowned historic and cultural cities, should be the first time and the incomparable Guilin karst mountain landscape, along with the magnificent 3-night 5-star Century Oasis Cruise, and the modern Shanghai should not be missed.

Activity location

Beijing
- Beijing, China

Meeting/Redemption Point

Beijing
- Beijing, China

Check availability

Sorry this activity isn't available on Sun, Apr 28

Please choose a different date

What's included, what's not

One way high speed train fare from Guilin to Chongqing
One way First-class Bullet Train ticket from Yichang to Shanghai
Hotel/ cruise ship accommodation based on twin-sharing room
One way Economy-class airfare from Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Guilin.
Air-conditioned vehicle
Two bottled water per person per day
Professional guide & experienced driver
Gratuities
China visa fees
International airfare
Excess luggage charges (where applicable)
Airport drop-off service in Shanghai on Day 14

Know before you book

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Xi'an Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is available from Apr to Nov.

Activity itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Beijing Airport

1 stop
Meals: Not included
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong (5 stars)

Beijing

Your professional local guide will meet you at Beijing Airport after reclaiming your luggage and clearing customs. Your driver will take you in a comfortable vehicle to the hotel and help you with the check-in procedure. The rest of the day is free for you.

Day 2: Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Lama Temple and Temple of Heaven

5 stops
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong (5 stars)

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)

This morning, your tour guide will pick up you at the hotel and take you to visit Tiananmen Square. You will see what the biggest urban city square in the world looks like.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum

3h
Admission ticket included

From the Tiananmen Square, you will enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City to explore its fascinating halls and pavilions. Here, you will not only learn how the emperor handled political affairs and lived their lives, but appreciate numerous ancient art treasures. At noon, an a la carte welcome lunch will be served at a superb local restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food and the most famous Peking Roast Duck.

Lama Temple (Yonghegong)

1h
Admission ticket included

In the afternoon, visit the Yonghe Temple, a solemn imperial lamasery that has survived over 300 years intact and features a blend of Han, Mongolian, and Tibetan architecture.

Temple of Heaven

1h 30m
Admission ticket included

At last, you will see the Temple of Heaven, with its unique architecture, where the emperors worshipped the heavens in hopes of good harvests.

Liyuan Theatre

1h
Admission ticket included

Tonight, you will enjoy a live Beijing Opera Show at Liyuan Theatre and have enough time to see how the actors apply makeup.

Day 3: China Great Wall Tour

3 stops
Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong (5 stars)

Mutianyu Great Wall

2h
Admission ticket included

This morning you will be taken to Mutianyu Great Wall to experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. The round-trip cable car will be arranged. Standing on the wall and looking at it stretching up and down into boundless distance is an exciting experience and will leave you a life-long memory. To celebrate and commemorate this moment, we specially provide red wine for a group-toasting on the Great Wall.

Niaochao National Stadium

In the afternoon, on the way back you will have a photo stop at the Olympic National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.

Hutong Tour

1h
Admission ticket included

Afterwards, you will take a rickshaw tour to explore the original Hutong alleys and have a chance to visit a local family.

Day 4: Summer Palace, Beijing to Xi'an by Plane

2 stops
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an (5 stars)

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

3h
Admission ticket included

After seeing giant pandas in the morning, you will visit the Summer Palace - the largest existing imperial garden with a graceful landscape and magnificent constructions.

Xi'an

After that, transfer you to the airport and you will fly to Xi'an. Upon your arrival, your local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel downtown.

Day 5: Terracotta Army, Ancient Pagoda & Tang Dynasty Dancing Show

3 stops
Meals: breakfast, snacks
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an (5 stars)

The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses

3h
Admission ticket included

The visit to the Terracotta Army will begin your day's journey. In the museum, there are three excavated pits displaying amazing warrior figures and Chinese ancient weapons. Afterwards, take a family visit to the home of the first discoverer of the Terracotta Army. And then make a mini clay warrior by yourself with the help of a local artisan.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)

1h
Admission ticket included

In the afternoon, you will the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) to store the Buddhist scriptures brought from ancient India.

Tang Dynasty Show

1h 30m
Admission ticket included

A splendid evening is in store when you will be entertained by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show while partaking in the famous Dumpling Dinner. Since the theater is not open in January, February, March, and December, the tour prices do not include the show and dumpling dinner for tours that start during those months.

Day 6: Xi'an City Tour

4 stops
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an (5 stars)

Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang)

3h
Admission ticket included

The day begins with a leisure visit to the City Wall Park, where you can observe the day-to-day life of the locals. You may also practice Tai Chi with the master. Tai Chi, a soft form of Chinese martial arts, is considered the quintessential Chinese culture. After that, you will pay a visit to the City Wall. It is the most complete existing urban fortification in China. Cycling on the ancient wall is an exciting experience that many people like to try (bike rental fee is not included).

Xi'an Mosque

30m
Admission ticket included

The Great Mosque in Xi'an is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China.

Muslim Quarter

1h
Admission ticket included

Then you will have a special lunch at the lively Muslim Quarter and try some local food.

Shaanxi History Museum

2h
Admission ticket included

After that, continue visiting the Provincial History Museum, which is considered the "pearl of ancient dynasties and the house of Chinese treasures".

Day 7: Xi'an - Guilin by Plane

3 stops
Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Sheraton Guilin Hotel (5 stars)

Guilin

This morning, you will take a flight to Guilin and your local guide will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel for check in.

Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan)

1h 30m
Admission ticket included

Your Guilin sightseeing starts with the famous Reed Flute Cave, which is a 240 meter karst cave that has various shapes of stalactites and stalagmites.

Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan)

1h
Admission ticket included

Then you will head to the Elephant Trunk Hill. The shape of the hill is just like a giant elephant boozing water from the river with its long trunk, hence got the name. After that, you will be transfered back to the hotel.

Day 8: Li River Cruise

2 stops
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Guilin Hotel (5 stars)

Li River

4h
Admission ticket included

Take a cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. Li River is the essence of landscape in this area, especially the section from Guilin to Yangshuo, which is reputed as 'A Hundred Miles Gallery'. The cruise ship will arrive at Yangshuo in about 4.5 hours.

West Street

2h
Admission ticket included

After docking at Yangshuo, you will walk through the well-known West Street. Then you will enjoy the amazing rural scenery as we drive along the surrounding country roads of Yangshuo. En route, you will be invited to visit a villager's home. After that, transfer you back to Guilin.

Day 9: Guilin - Chongqing by a bullet train

1 stop
Meals: breakfast, snacks
Accommodation: Century Oasis (5 stars)

Chongqing

Take a high-speed train for around 5 hours to Chongqing in the morning. Upon arrival, you will be met and escorted to board the Century Oasis cruise ship for a three-night stay. After some rest in your private cabin, you will have an exclusive exquisite buffet dinner and be welcomed by a wine party hosted by the Captain. The ship is set to sail at 22:00.

Day 10: Yangtze River Cruise

1 stop
Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
Accommodation: Century Oasis (5 stars)

Ghost City of Fengdu

2h
Admission ticket included

After breakfast, disembark for an excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City, a palace complex where you get to see what the underworld in Chinese folklores looks like. Afternoon is free time for you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Yangtze River on deck. Attend some cultural programs onboard if you like.

Day 11: Yangtze River Cruise

1 stop
Meals: breakfast, lunch, snacks
Accommodation: Century Oasis (5 stars)

Shennv Stream

3h
Admission ticket included

The most essential part of your Yangtze River cruise tour comes today as the ship sails through the Three Gorges: Qutang, Wu and Xiling gorges. Experience an exciting onshore excursion to Shennv Stream.

Day 12: Yichang - Shanghai by a bullet train

3 stops
Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World (5 stars)

Three Gorges Dam Project

3h
Admission ticket included

After breakfast, you will disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. Before that, you should pack your luggage and complete check-out procedures.

Yichang

After finishing the excursion, the cruise ship company will drive you to the Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang city. Your local guide will meet you there and then see you off at Yichang East Railway Station for a bullet train to Shanghai.

Shanghai

Upon your arrival, your guide in Shanghai will greet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 13: Shanghai City Trip

5 stops
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World (5 stars)

Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan)

2h
Admission ticket included

This morning, you will visit one of the four largest museums in China, Shanghai Museum, which specializes in exhibiting art works from ancient times.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan)

2h
Admission ticket included

After that, explore Yu Garden and its nearby traditional bazaar. The symbol of the Garden is the Nine Zigzag Bridge built of granite and grass-white jade and the quaint, elegant mid-lake pavilion. Then an a la carte lunch is arranged for you at a local famous restaurant.

Shanghai Tower

After that, enjoy a panorama of the city at Duo Yun Bookstore on the 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower.

Huangpu River

1h
Admission ticket included

And then go to the thriving Bund area. Take a one-hour cruise along the Hungpu River - the mother river of Shanghai. As the symbol and a microcosm of the city, the river has witnessed the glory, humiliation, despair and prosperity of Shanghai.

The Bund (Wai Tan)

Have some free time on the Bund area. Upon returning to the hotel, your guide will see you into the lobby to say bon voyage.

Day 14: Leave Shanghai by yourself

1 stop
Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Not included

Shanghai

After breakfast at the hotel, please find your own way to the airport for your homeward flight. Due to different flight schedules, the hotel-airport transfer service is not included. However, we would be happy to assist you if needed.

Location

Activity location

Beijing
- Beijing, China

Meeting/Redemption Point

Beijing
- Beijing, China

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