Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
Your private guide meets you at Beijing airport's arrival hall and helps with luggage. From there, your private car takes you to the hotel, and your guide assists with check-in so you can settle in and rest after your flight.
- Day 2
Beijing
After breakfast at your hotel, you head to Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City with your guide. Then it's a walk to Jingshan Park for views across Beijing. Following lunch, you take a rickshaw ride through the historic Hutongs to see how locals live and work in these traditional neighborhoods.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tian'anmen Square
- Guided tour of the Forbidden City
- Walk to Jingshan Park for panoramic views
- Rickshaw tour through historic Hutongs
Landmarks Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Jingshan Park Hutongs - Day 3
Beijing
Your guide picks you up and the drive to Mutianyu Great Wall takes about 1.5 hours. You'll go up by cable car or ski lift, then hike the wall for roughly 1.5 hours, checking out watch and beacon towers along the way. After lunch at a local spot, you head to Temple of Heaven park to walk through courtyards and learn about imperial traditions, plus catch locals doing Tai Chi.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car or ski lift ascent
- Hiking various sections of Mutianyu Great Wall (approximately 1.5 hours)
- Guided tour of Temple of Heaven park
- Visit to Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest
- Visit to Hall of Imperial Zenith
- Visit to Echo Wall
- Visit to Nine Dragon Cypress
- Visit to Circular Mount Altar
- Observation of Tai Chi practice
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Temple of Heaven Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest Echo Wall Nine Dragon Cypress Circular Mount Altar - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
You start at the Summer Palace UNESCO site, touring the East Gate's Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, the Long Corridor, and the marble boat. Next comes Yonghe Temple with its mix of Tibetan and Han Chinese design, where you see the Hall of Dispelling Clouds and Tower of Buddhist Incense. After some free time, your guide takes you to the airport for your flight to Xi'an and transfers you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Summer Palace
- Visit to Hall of Benevolence and Longevity
- Visit to Long Corridor
- Visit to Marble Boat
- Guided tour of Yonghe Temple
- Visit to Hall of Dispelling Clouds
- Visit to Tower of Buddhist Incense
Landmarks Summer Palace Hall of Benevolence and Longevity Marble Boat Yonghe Temple Hall of Dispelling Clouds Tower of Buddhist Incense 
- Day 5
Xi'an
You leave your hotel heading to the Terracotta Army UNESCO site, where your guide explains how 7,000 life-sized terracotta figures and horses were placed with Emperor Qin Shihuang, and you tour the museum. In the afternoon, you walk around Bell & Drum Tower Square and visit the Ming Dynasty towers. Then you head to the Muslim Quarter food street to try local snacks and browse souvenirs before ending at the Great Mosque, which has a unique Chinese garden design.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Terracotta Army site
- Exploration of Terracotta Army museum
- Walk around Bell & Drum Tower Square
- Outer visit of Bell Tower and Drum Tower
- Exploration of Muslim Quarter
- Guided tour of Great Mosque
Landmarks Terracotta Army Bell & Drum Tower Square Bell Tower Drum Tower Muslim Quarter Great Mosque - Day 6
Xi'an to Yellow Mountain
The morning starts at Shaanxi History Museum where you see ancient art, sculptures, and historical items. You visit the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda from the Tang Dynasty, climb it for views across Xi'an, and learn about its historical and religious importance. After free time, your guide takes you to the airport for your flight to Yellow Mountain and transfers you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Shaanxi History Museum
- Guided tour of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)
- Ascent of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Landmarks Shaanxi History Museum Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) - Day 7
Yellow Mountain
You head to Hongcun Village (UNESCO site) and wander cobblestone streets, finding hidden courtyards like Moon Lake and spotting traditional Hui-style architecture including Southern Lake Academy. Afterward, you drive to Yellow Mountain and take a cable car up. With your guide, you explore iconic peaks like Begin-to-Believe Peak, Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, Bright Summit, and Flying-over Rock, learning their legends and cultural meaning. You watch the sunset from a selected spot and stay at the summit.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Hongcun Village
- Exploration of Moon Lake
- Visit to Southern Lake Academy
- Cable car ascent of Yellow Mountain
- Guided tour of Begin-to-Believe Peak
- Guided tour of Dispelling Cloud Pavilion
- Guided tour of Bright Summit
- Guided tour of Flying-over Rock
- Sunset viewing at Yellow Mountain
Landmarks Hongcun Village Moon Lake Southern Lake Academy Yellow Mountain Begin-to-Believe Peak Dispelling Cloud Pavilion Bright Summit Flying-over Rock 
- Day 8
Yellow Mountain
Starting early, you watch the sunrise over Yellow Mountain from a chosen vantage point while your guide shares insights about this spiritual place. Then you explore the Back Mountain, walking through West Sea Grand Canyon, Lion Peak, and Begin-to-Believe Peak before heading down via Yungu Cable Way. Your guide explains the geological features, cultural significance, and ecological details of each location as you go.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over Yellow Mountain
- Guided exploration of Back Mountain
- Guided tour of West Sea Grand Canyon
- Guided tour of Lion Peak
- Guided tour of Begin-to-Believe Peak
- Descent via Yungu Cable Way
Landmarks West Sea Grand Canyon Lion Peak Yungu Cable Way - Day 9
Yellow Mountain to Hangzhou
You wander Tang Mo Village's cobblestone streets and admire traditional courtyard homes with detailed wood carvings. Local tea masters guide you through tea-picking in ecological gardens, then you learn tea-making from withering to fermenting. You visit Xie Yu Da Tea Culture Museum to see ancient tea tools and learn about the region's tea heritage. After free time, your guide takes you to the high-speed train station for your trip to Hangzhou and transfers you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exploration of Tang Mo Village
- Tea-picking in ecological tea gardens
- Tea-making experience
- Guided tour of Xie Yu Da Tea Culture Museum
Landmarks Tang Mo Village Xie Yu Da Tea Culture Museum - Day 10
Hangzhou
Your guide and driver take you from your hotel to Wuzhen, a 1,300-year-old water town. You have lunch, then explore canals and bridges by boat and on foot. Later you head to Xitang timed to catch the sunset, and finish with a romantic riverside dinner with Xitang's lit streets as your backdrop, combining two classic Chinese water towns in one day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Wuzhen water town
- Boat and walking exploration of Wuzhen canals and bridges
- Guided tour of Xitang water town
- Sunset viewing in Xitang
- Riverside dinner in Xitang
Landmarks Wuzhen Xitang 
- Day 11
Hangzhou to Shanghai
You take a scenic cruise across West Lake, enjoying the calm waters that have inspired Chinese poets for centuries. Then you climb Chenghuang Pavilion for views of Hangzhou and West Lake, and try Southern Song Dynasty snacks. At an oil umbrella workshop, you learn the craft and paint your own umbrella. After free time, your guide takes you to the high-speed train station for your journey to Shanghai and transfers you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cruise across West Lake
- Ascent of Chenghuang Pavilion
- Viewing of Hangzhou and West Lake from Chenghuang Pavilion
- Visit to oil umbrella workshop
- Oil umbrella painting and personalization session
Landmarks West Lake Chenghuang Pavilion 
- Day 12
Shanghai
You explore the French Concession, a former French colonial settlement that returned to China in 1946 and keeps its distinct character as a top residential and shopping area. Then you check out the traditional Yuyuan Garden, a classical landscape space, and the nearby Chenghuangmiao temple. You walk through old Shanghai streets and Nongtang (traditional living spaces), then finish at Xintiandi Style Shopping Center and the busy Bund, passing 1920s era buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of French Concession
- Guided tour of Yuyuan Garden
- Visit to Chenghuangmiao (Old City God Temple)
- Exploration of Shanghai old streets
- Exploration of Nongtang (traditional alleyways)
- Visit to Xintiandi Style Shopping Center
- Exploration of the Bund
Landmarks French Concession Yuyuan Garden Chenghuangmiao (Old City God Temple) Xintiandi The Bund - Day 13
Departure from Shanghai
You have free time in Shanghai to do as you please before your guide takes you to the airport for your onward flight.
