Itinerary
- Day 1
Beijing
Your driver meets you at the airport or train station and takes you to your hotel in downtown Beijing. The rest of the day is open, so you can rest up from travel or walk around your hotel area to get oriented.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Anhui Tower)
- Day 2
Beijing
After breakfast, your guide picks you up to see Beijing's major historical sites. You'll walk through Tiananmen Square, then head to the Forbidden City with its 8,700 rooms where emperors ruled for centuries. From there, it's a short walk up to Jingshan Park for views looking back at the Forbidden City and the modern skyline. Later in the afternoon, you drive to the Summer Palace, an imperial property with temples, gardens, and lakes spread across the grounds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Anhui Tower)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tiananmen Square
- Entrance to Forbidden City
- Visit to Jingshan Park
- Visit to Summer Palace
Landmarks Tiananmen Square Forbidden City Jingshan Park Summer Palace - Day 3
Beijing
You'll head northwest for about 1.5 to 2 hours to reach Mutianyu Great Wall. Take the cable car up to the 14th watchtower, then hike along the wall's western side through pine and cypress trees. If you're up for it, push on to the 20th watchtower for the views. Afterward, drive back to downtown Beijing to photograph the Bird's Nest and Water Cube from the 2008 Olympics before heading to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Anhui Tower)
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to Mutianyu Great Wall
- Hiking on Mutianyu Great Wall
- Photos at Bird's Nest exterior
- Photos at Water Cube exterior
Landmarks Mutianyu Great Wall Bird's Nest (Beijing National Stadium) Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center) - Day 4
Beijing to Xian
You have free time this morning and early afternoon. Your driver picks you up and takes you to Beijing Train Station for the high-speed train to Xian, which takes about 4.5 to 5.5 hours. When you arrive at Xian Train Station, your driver meets you and transfers you to your hotel in downtown Xian.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Xi'an Ancient Town West, an IHG Hotel)
- Day 5
Xian
After breakfast, your guide and driver take you about 40 kilometers (roughly 1 hour) to the Terracotta Army Museum. You'll see the largest pit with over 6,000 terracotta soldiers and horses, then check out another pit containing around 1,300 warriors in various formations. After lunch, you walk the Ancient City Wall for views of modern Xian, then visit the Bell Tower, a 600-year-old Ming Dynasty structure that lights up at night. Later, there's a chance to see the musical fountain and square dancing at Bell and Drum Tower Square.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Xi'an Ancient Town West, an IHG Hotel)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Terracotta Army Museum
- Visit to Terracotta Warriors pits
- Walk on Ancient City Wall
- Visit to Bell Tower
Optional Activities
- Watch musical fountain and square dancing at Bell & Drum Tower Square
Landmarks Terracotta Army Museum Ancient City Wall of Xian Bell Tower - Day 6
Xian to Guilin
This morning, you visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a seven-story Tang Dynasty landmark completed in AD 652 at Da Ci'en Temple to hold Buddhist texts brought from India. Next, you walk through the Muslim Quarter, a historic neighborhood over 1,000 years old behind the Drum Tower. Then you're transferred to the airport for a 2.5-hour flight to Guilin. Your driver meets you and takes you to your hotel in downtown Guilin.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Guilin High-tech Zone Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit to Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- Explore Muslim Quarter
Landmarks Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Muslim Quarter 
- Day 7
Guilin to Yangshuo
After breakfast, you drive about 1 hour to the pier for a 4.5-hour Li River cruise to Yangshuo. Along the 84-kilometer route, you see limestone karst peaks, water buffalo, farmers in fields, and traditional villages. Lunch is served on board with local Chinese food. Once you reach Yangshuo, rest at your hotel, then bike through the countryside past karst hills and rice paddies. Later, stroll West Street, Yangshuo's main area with restaurants, bars, and shops mixing Western and Chinese influences.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Simple local Chinese cuisine on the cruise)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mehood Hotel (Yangshuo Wubu Small Town))
Included Activities
- Li River cruise
- Exploration of Yangshuo countryside
Optional Activities
- Rent an electric scooter for an additional fee
Landmarks Li River West Street 
- Day 8
Yangshuo to Shanghai
Early on, you drive back to Guilin to see Elephant Trunk Hill, which resembles an elephant drinking at the river. Then you visit the Reed Flute Cave with stalactites and stalagmites lit up in colorful neon. After this, you're driven to the airport for a 2.5-hour flight to Shanghai. Your driver meets you and takes you to your hotel in downtown Shanghai.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping)
Included Activities
- Visit to Elephant Trunk Hill
- Visit to Reed Flute Cave
Landmarks Elephant Trunk Hill Peach Blossom River Reed Flute Cave 
- Day 9
Shanghai
You'll spend the day exploring Shanghai's modern and older architecture. Head to Pudong to ride the world's fastest elevators at 64 km/h up Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building at 632 meters, stopping at the 118th floor for 360-degree city views. Check out the Shanghai Museum, shaped like an ancient bronze vessel, with 120,000 cultural items from 5,000 years of Chinese history. Walk through Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden with detailed sculptures and carvings, then browse Yuyuan Bazaar for local snacks and crafts. In the afternoon, stroll Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street with its shops and brands, then head to the Bund to see 52 buildings in different architectural styles with views across to Pudong.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping)
Included Activities
- Visit to Shanghai Tower with Observatory entrance on 118th floor
- Guided tour of Shanghai Museum
- Visit to Yu Garden
- Browse Yuyuan Bazaar
- Stroll Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
- Visit to the Bund
Landmarks Shanghai Tower Shanghai Museum Yu Garden Yuyuan Bazaar Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street The Bund - Day 10
Shanghai
Your 10-day tour ends today. You have free time to explore Shanghai on your own before your driver takes you to the airport or train station for your onward flight or high-speed train.
- Meals
- Breakfast
