Itinerary
- Days 1 - 2
Shanghai
After arriving in Shanghai, you'll settle in and begin exploring whenever you're ready. Take things slow and soak up the local atmosphere of this vibrant city without any fixed schedule.
- Day 3
Shanghai
This morning starts at Yu Garden and the old town, then you'll tour a silk factory to see how it's made. Later, walk along the Bund to see the colonial architecture, ride the Maglev train at 300 km/h, and finish with a cruise on the Huangpu River while trying Shanghainese dishes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Shanghainese cuisine)
Included Activities
- Visit Yu Garden
- Explore the old town
- Tour of silk factory
- Stroll along the Bund
- Ride on Maglev train
- Panoramic cruise on Huangpu River
- Dinner with Shanghainese cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Yu Garden The Bund Huangpu River - Day 4
Shanghai to Mount Huang
Take the bullet train to Tunxi, then head up Mount Huang via cable car. You'll spend the afternoon walking around this UNESCO site with its distinctive peaks, unusual rock formations, ancient pines, and misty scenery before settling in at the summit for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Tunxi
- Cable car ascent to Mount Huang summit
- Explore Mount Huang UNESCO World Heritage Site
Landmarks/POIs Mount Huang Tunxi - Day 5
Mount Huang to Tunxi
After descending Mount Huang by cable car, you'll explore Tunxi's atmospheric old town. Wander the narrow cobbled streets past small shops selling local snacks, tea, brushes for painting, cultural items, and carved wood pieces.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cable car descent from Mount Huang
- Explore Tunxi town
Landmarks/POIs Tunxi Old Town - Day 6
Tunxi to Changsha
The bullet train takes you to Changsha, a city with deep historical roots. Check out Orange Island's bamboo and sculpture gardens, including a 32-meter statue of Chairman Mao. By evening, head to the lively night market to try local food.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Local delicacies at night market)
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Changsha
- Explore Orange Island bamboo and sculpture gardens
- View 32-meter statue of Chairman Mao Zedong
- Experience local night market
Landmarks/POIs Orange Island Statue of Chairman Mao Zedong - Day 7
Changsha to Guilin
Start your day at Yuelu Academy, a place where learning and ancient traditions go hand in hand. From there, you'll travel through beautiful landscapes on your way to reach Guilin and its natural attractions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Yuelu Academy
- Journey to Guilin
Landmarks/POIs Yuelu Academy - Day 8
Guilin
You'll see Elephant Trunk Hill, a rock formation that really does look like an elephant drinking from the Li River. Then visit the Sun and Moon Pagodas and the old South City Gate. Later, take a quiet cruise through the canals and walkways of the Two Rivers and Four Lakes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tour Elephant Trunk Hill
- Visit Sun and Moon Pagodas
- Visit ancient South City Gate
- Cruise on Two Rivers and Four Lakes
Landmarks/POIs Elephant Trunk Hill Sun and Moon Pagodas South City Gate Two Rivers and Four Lakes Li River - Day 9
Guilin to Yangshuo
Cruise along the Li River toward Yangshuo, and you'll see towering karst peaks, green countryside, water buffalo, and local fishermen at work around every bend. Once you arrive, walk through the cobbled streets and markets. If you're interested, the optional Sanjie Liu night show happens this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise along Li River to Yangshuo
- Explore Yangshuo's cobbled streets and markets
Optional Activities
- Sanjie Liu night show
Landmarks/POIs Yangshuo Li River - Day 10
Yangshuo to Kunming
Board the bullet train to Kunming in Yunnan province. From your seat, you'll watch karst formations, terraced fields, small villages, and the rugged mountains of Yunnan pass by during the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Kunming
Landmarks/POIs Kunming - Day 11
Kunming
You'll walk through the Stone Forest, a UNESCO site where tall limestone columns create the illusion of a woodland. Head back to Kunming by evening and try Across the Bridge noodles, a local specialty.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Across the Bridge noodles)
Included Activities
- Explore UNESCO-listed Stone Forest
- Return to Kunming
- Dinner of Across the Bridge noodles
Landmarks/POIs Stone Forest - Day 12
Kunming to Dali
Take the bullet train to Dali, a town that gives you a window into old China. Spend time in the historic quarter and see the ancient Three Pagodas. That evening, stroll down Foreigners' Street.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Dali
- Explore Dali's historic quarter
- Visit Three Pagodas
- Evening stroll through Foreigners' Street
Landmarks/POIs Three Pagodas Dali Old Town Foreigners' Street - Day 13
Dali
Visit Xizhou village to browse the local market and tour the Yan family home, plus see a tie-dying demonstration. Then relax on a cruise across Erhai Lake's calm waters, taking in views of the Cang Mountains.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Xizhou village
- Browse local market
- Visit Yan family home
- Watch tie-dying demonstration
- Cruise on Erhai Lake
Landmarks/POIs Xizhou Village Erhai Lake Cang Mountains - Day 14
Dali to Lijiang
The bullet train gets you to Lijiang. Explore the old quarter, the classic Chinese 'old town', wandering through the winding cobbled streets, traditional wooden houses, and rustic stone bridges.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Lijiang
- Explore old quarter of Lijiang
- Wander cobbled streets and traditional wooden buildings
Landmarks/POIs Lijiang Old Town - Day 15
Lijiang
Head to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a peak with multiple summits and the highest at 5,500 meters. You'll take a cable car up to one of the beautiful high meadows for great views. Later, visit Baisha old town to see Ming Dynasty frescoes and Baisha village, home to the Naxi minority people.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cable car ride on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
- Explore high meadows
- Visit Baisha old town
- View Ming Dynasty frescoes
- Visit Baisha village
Landmarks/POIs Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Baisha Old Town Baisha Village - Day 16
Lijiang to Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. This city blends modern and traditional life well, with teahouses, spicy food, and a slower pace that creates a welcoming and culturally interesting place to be.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight to Chengdu
Landmarks/POIs Chengdu - Day 17
Chengdu to Xian
In the morning, visit Chengdu's Panda Conservation Base to see these famous bears up close in settings that feel natural to them. Afterward, take the bullet train to Xian, where the legendary Silk Road begins and history goes back 3,100 years.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Panda Conservation Base
- Bullet train to Xian
Landmarks/POIs Panda Conservation Base Xian - Day 18
Xian
Spend the morning with the Terracotta Army made for China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, found in the 1970s. Visit the workshop to watch artisans recreate warriors the traditional way, then walk along the beautiful 14th-century city walls around Xian's old town. This evening, have dumplings and watch a Tang Dynasty dance performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dumpling feast with Tang Dynasty dancing show)
Included Activities
- View Terracotta Army
- Visit terracotta warrior workshop
- Stroll on 14th-century city walls
- Dumpling feast and Tang Dynasty dancing show
Landmarks/POIs Terracotta Army Xian City Walls - Day 19
Xian to Beijing
Board the bullet train to Beijing, China's historical capital. During the ride, you'll see terraced fields, distant mountains, rural villages, and increasingly busy urban areas as the landscape changes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Bullet train to Beijing
Landmarks/POIs Beijing - Day 20
Beijing
Start at Tiananmen Square, Beijing's symbolic center, then go into the Forbidden City through the Gate of Supreme Harmony to see imperial treasures. Later, spend time at the Temple of Heaven for its peaceful atmosphere, and visit the China Railway Museum to learn about the country's rail history. Have Peking duck for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Peking duck)
Included Activities
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- Tour Forbidden City
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Visit China Railway Museum
- Dinner of Peking duck
Landmarks/POIs Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Gate of Supreme Harmony Temple of Heaven China Railway Museum - Day 21
Beijing
This morning focuses on the Great Wall, where you'll walk on this incredible structure and take in both its scale and the dramatic landscape around it. You'll also visit a jade factory, then spend the afternoon at Summer Palace, walking through traditional gardens and seeing beautiful architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Great Wall of China
- Visit jade factory
- Visit Summer Palace
- Explore traditional Chinese gardens
Landmarks/POIs Great Wall of China Summer Palace - Day 22
Beijing to UK
Head to the airport for your flight back to the UK, arriving home the same day or the next depending on your route.
