Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
You'll fly into Beijing today where your private guide will be waiting at arrivals. They'll handle your luggage and get you settled at the hotel, so you can just focus on the journey ahead without any hassle.
- Day 2
Beijing
Start the morning with breakfast before heading out to see Tian'anmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world. From there, you'll walk to the Forbidden City and explore its 8,728 rooms filled with centuries of imperial history. Later, Jingshan Park gives you views looking back over the entire palace and city. After grabbing lunch, you'll take a rickshaw through the Hutongs to see how locals actually live in these historic neighborhoods.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tian'anmen Square
- Explore Forbidden City with guided tour through central axis and highlighted palaces
- Walk to Jingshan Park for panoramic views of Beijing and Forbidden City
- Rickshaw tour through historic Hutongs
Landmarks/POIs Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Jingshan Park Hutongs - Day 3
Mutianyu Great Wall and Temple of Heaven
Your guide picks you up at the hotel for the 1.5-hour drive to Mutianyu Great Wall. You'll take a cable car or ski lift up, then spend about 1.5 hours hiking different sections and checking out the watch towers. After lunch at a local spot, you'll head to Temple of Heaven park in the afternoon to see the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Hall of Imperial Zenith, and Echo Wall. You might catch locals doing Tai Chi there too.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel to Mutianyu Great Wall with guide commentary on history and countryside scenery
- Cable car or ski lift access up the Wall
- Hiking on various sections of Mutianyu Great Wall with exploration of watch and beacon towers
- Visit Temple of Heaven park with guided tour
- Explore Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, Hall of Imperial Zenith, Echo Wall, Nine Dragon Cypress, Circular Mount Altar
- Observe locals playing Tai Chi
Landmarks/POIs Mutianyu Great Wall Temple of Heaven - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
The morning starts at Summer Palace, a UNESCO site where you'll see the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, the Long Corridor, and the marble boat. Next, you'll check out Yonghe Temple with its mix of Tibetan and Han Chinese architecture, including the Hall of Dispelling Clouds and Tower of Buddhist Incense. After some free time, your guide transfers you to the airport for your flight to Xi'an, where another guide meets you and takes you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Summer Palace UNESCO World Heritage site
- Explore Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, Long Corridor, and marble boat at Summer Palace
- Visit Yonghe Temple with Tibetan and Han Chinese architecture
- View Hall of Dispelling Clouds and Tower of Buddhist Incense
Landmarks/POIs Summer Palace Yonghe Temple - Day 5
Xi'an
You'll head out to see the Terracotta Army, a UNESCO site where 7,000 life-sized terracotta soldiers and horses are on display. Your guide explains the history, and you can walk through the museum for more context. In the afternoon, you'll wander around Bell & Drum Tower Square to see these Ming Dynasty towers, then explore the Muslim Quarter with its street food and shops. Before heading back to the hotel, you'll visit the Great Mosque, which blends Chinese garden style with pavilions and carved details.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Terracotta Army UNESCO World Heritage site with guide explanation
- Explore site and museum exhibitions of Terracotta Army
- Walk on Bell & Drum Tower Square with outer views of the two towers
- Visit Muslim Quarter food street
- Visit the Great Mosque
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Army Bell & Drum Tower Square Muslim Quarter Great Mosque - Day 6
Xi'an to Yichang
You'll have free time this morning, then your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Yichang. When you land, your guide meets you and drives you to Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. After getting checked in, you'll board the Victoria Cruises ship and take a shuttle ride to Maoping as your upstream journey along the Yangtze River begins.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Begin Victoria Cruises upstream journey from Yichang
- Shuttle ride to Maoping
Landmarks/POIs Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal - Day 7
Yangtze River Cruise
The day starts with a tour of Three Gorges Dam Site, an engineering landmark worth seeing. Later, you'll attend a Captain's Welcome Reception with dinner and meet fellow passengers. As evening comes, there's a Minorities and Dynasty Costumes Show with performances and colorful displays that brings local culture to life onboard.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Three Gorges Dam Site
- Captain's Welcome Reception with cuisine
- Minorities and Dynasty Costumes Show
Landmarks/POIs Three Gorges Dam Site - Day 8
Yangtze River Cruise
You'll wake to early morning coffee or tea while the ship cruises through Goddess Stream. The dramatic landscapes of Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge reveal themselves as you move along the river. When evening arrives, the Cabaret Show features music and dance performances that keep the evening lively and entertaining on the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early morning coffee or tea service while cruising Goddess Stream
- Cruise through Wu Gorge
- Cruise through Qutang Gorge
- Cabaret Show with music and dance
Landmarks/POIs Goddess Stream Wu Gorge Qutang Gorge - Day 9
Yangtze River Cruise
This morning includes an Early Bird Coffee and Tea service before you explore Snow Jade Cave in Fengdu. The day focuses on local culture and scenery activities. Later, you'll attend the Captain's Farewell Dinner, a chance to celebrate memories and the friendships you've made with other passengers during the upstream cruise.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Early Bird Coffee and Tea service
- Explore Snow Jade Cave in Fengdu
- Local culture and scenery immersion activities
- Captain's Farewell Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Snow Jade Cave in Fengdu - Day 10
Yangtze River Cruise to Chongqing
Your final morning aboard has free time to relax and reflect on the Yangtze River journey. After breakfast, you'll disembark at Chongqing Ferry Terminal where your guide greets you and drives you to your hotel. Later, you'll visit the Three Gorges Museum to learn about regional history, then check out Hongya Cave, a striking stilted building with city views. You'll also explore Jiefangbei Square, Ciqikou (Porcelain Port) with its traditional architecture and local snacks, and finish at the Great Mosque.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast onboard cruise
- Visit Three Gorges Museum for regional history and culture
- Explore Hongya Cave stilted building complex
- Visit Jiefangbei Square
- Explore Ciqikou (Porcelain Port) ancient street with traditional architecture
- Visit the Great Mosque
Landmarks/POIs Three Gorges Museum Hongya Cave Jiefangbei Square Ciqikou - Day 11
Chongqing to Guilin
After your guide takes you to the high-speed train station, you'll travel to Guilin by train. Once you arrive, your guide meets you and transfers you to your hotel. Later, you'll explore Reed Flute Cave, an underground formation with natural sculptures, and see Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's iconic landmark. You'll also walk through central streets where you can see both traditional and modern Guilin.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Reed Flute Cave with famous limestone marvels
- View Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin's iconic symbol
- Explore serene lakes of Guilin
- Walk through vibrant central walking streets
Landmarks/POIs Reed Flute Cave Elephant Trunk Hill - Day 12
Guilin to Yangshuo
Your guide picks you up at 8:20 AM and takes you to Zhujiang pier for a boat boarding at 9:00 AM. The Li River cruise to Yangshuo takes about 5 hours, running until 2:00 PM. You'll see karst peaks, water buffalo in fields, farmers working rice paddies, and fishermen on bamboo rafts. After arriving around 4:00 PM, you can walk through Yangshuo town and explore West Street before heading to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (approximately 5 hours)
- View karst peaks and dramatic river scenery
- Observe water buffalo, rice paddies, and fishermen on bamboo rafts
- Explore Yangshuo town
- Walk through famous West Street
Landmarks/POIs Li River West Street - Day 13
Yangshuo to Shanghai
You have free time until your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Once you land, your guide will meet you at arrivals and drive you to your hotel. They'll help with your bags and get you checked in so you can settle in without any complications.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 14
Shanghai
Today explores different sides of Shanghai, starting with the French Concession, a former French colonial area that returned to China in 1946 and still keeps its distinct character as a residential and shopping district. You'll visit Yuyuan Garden, a classical landscape garden, and the Chenghuangmiao temple nearby. Walking through old streets and Nongtang alleyways shows you how ordinary Shanghainese have lived for generations. By evening, you'll check out Xintiandi Shopping Center and the Bund, passing through 1920s buildings and exploring the city's colonial past.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit French Concession neighborhood
- Explore Yuyuan Garden (Yu Garden)
- Visit Chenghuangmiao (Old City God Temple)
- Explore Shanghai old streets and Nongtang
- Visit Xintiandi Style Shopping Center
- Tour the Bund
Landmarks/POIs French Concession Yuyuan Garden Chenghuangmiao The Bund - Day 15
Departure from Shanghai
You'll have free time this morning before your guide takes you to the airport for your final flight. That marks the end of your tour.
