15 Days China Impression Small Group Tour: Experience Classic China & Nature

Welcome to Beijing! Upon arrival, your driver will be ready to pick you up and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore Beijing at your own pace.

Arrival ideas:

• Visit a traditional tea-house and watch shows like Beking Opera and acrobatics.

• Walk into a cool bar or cafe to experience Beijing's modern side.

• Enjoy authentic local snacks or vibrant night views at Panjiayuan Antique Market, Wangfujing, Houhai or Niujie.

Today is for you to discover the imperial side of Beijing through its iconic landmarks, imperial palaces and gardens.

Meet your guide after breakfast and begin your tour at Tian'anmen Square, a vast plaza that ranks as the largest of its kind anywhere on earth. It has played host to one landmark moment after another in modern Chinese history, and it offers a perfect photo spot in front of the Tian'anmen Gate.

A short walk brings you into the Forbidden City (aka Palace Museum), where 24 emperors once lived behind its walls. For roughly five centuries, it functioned as the ceremonial and political core of the country, through both the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. UNESCO now lists it among the world's heritage treasures. Its more than 8,700 rooms make it the country's finest and most complete collection of ancient buildings — a true city within a city.

Enter from the Meridian Gate and walk along the central axis to encounter some of its best highlights, taking in the architecture details and treasures as your guide recounts how the rulers who resided here spent their days.

After the visit, a gentle 15-minute climb to the top of Jingshan Park follows. The view platform at the highest pavillion in the park will reward you with a bird's-eye view over the rooftops of the Forbidden City and the modern city beyond.

Visit the Summer Palace in the afternoon, a lakeside retreat where generations of emperors in the Qing Dynasty escaped the summer heat. It has long been called a "Museum of Royal Gardens," with temples, pavilions, bridges, gate-towers and a painted corridor well arranged along shores of Kunming Lake. Wandering through the garden feels like stepping into a scroll of classical Chinese landscape painting.

Travel Note: The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays. If your planned visit falls on a Monday, your guide will adjust the itinerary and arrange the visit for another day during your stay in Beijing.

Drive roughly 73 km (about 1.5-2 hours) out of the city this morning to visit the Mutianyu Great Wall. This restored section borders Jiankou Wild Great Wall to its west and is widely praised as the longest and best-preserved open stretch of the Ming Great Wall. Compared to the popular Badaling Great Wall, this section sees fewer visitors and features 23 Ming-era watchtowers and sweeping views.

Based on your energy level, you can hike the whole section or take a cable car up to Watchtower 14. The hike from Watchtower 14 to Watchtower 20 is mostly easy with expansive scenery and excellent photo spots, though the final stretch between Tower 19 and 20 is steep (the famous Hero Slope).

Drive back to the city center after this once-in-a-lifetime experience. En route, stop for photos outside two Olympic icons: the Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center), built for the 2008 Summer Games and reused for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Your driver then drops you at the hotel, and the rest of the evening is your own.

Say goodbye to Beijing after breakfast and board a high-speed train to Xi'an. The ride will take about 4.5-5.5 hours. Your guide and driver in Xi'an will be ready to greet you upon arrival and escort you to explore historical highlights in the city center.

Your first stop in Xi'an is the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, an instantly recognizable emblem of Xi'an and a monument to the splendor of the Tang Dynasty. Rising within the Daci'en Temple, this seven-story tower was completed in AD 652 to house Buddhist scriptures carried back from India by the famous monk Xuan Zang. The tower features a square plan and boasts one of the finest examples of Tang-style architecture.

As the day winds down, wander through the Muslim Quarter, the busiest corner of Xi'an, packed with stalls selling various authentic local foods and unique souvenirs. Most visitors come here to experience their first taste of Xi'an's local flavors. Recommended food include Roujiamo, Yangrou Paomo, Biangbiang noodles, etc.

Good to know: If you are traveling in a group, consider ordering different dishes and sharing them. It's a great way to sample more local foods.

Many travelers know Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, and you will witness this remarkable underground army dating back over 2,200 years this morning. About 40 km from the city center, the Terracotta Army ranks among the world's greatest archaeological discoveries.

Qin Shihuang, China's first emperor, ordered craftsmen to build this vast burial army to guard him in the afterlife. Though the entire site has not been fully excavated yet, you will be amazed by the military formation of the Qin Dynasty, revealed through the over 8,000 life-sized terracotta figures that have been unearthed so far. All of them are testaments to the extraordinary skill of ancient Chinese craftsmen.

Currently, there 3 pits open to the public. Pit 1 is the most striking one, housing over 6,000 soldiers and horses. Pit 2 houses around 1,300 warriors and horses, showing the battle formation with its kneeling and standing archers, chariot ranks and weapon-bearing troops.

After lunch, drive back to the city center to enjoy your time on the Ancient City Wall, the Fortification of Xi'an and one of the most complete and oldest city walls still standing in China. Stroll along its ramparts, gazing over the inner and outer walls, watchtowers and moat, and enjoy panoramic views of modern Xi'an.

Descend from the City Wall at Yongning Gate, then walk to the Bell & Drum Tower Square to admire the over 600-year-old Bell Tower and Drum Tower, which offer an ideal backdrop for photos capturing the city's blend of past and present. After dark, the square offers a vibrant city nightscape and a glimpse into locals' evening routines.

The driver will pick you up at the appointed time and transfer you to the train station for your high-speed train to Chengdu. The ride will take about 3-4 hours. Upon arrival, your driver in Chengdu will be ready to pick you up and escort you to your hotel in Chengdu downtown area.

Enjoy the rest of the day yourself. Feel free to ask for some free-time ideas from the driver or your travel consultant.

After breakfast, meet your guide at the hotel lobby. Take the coach to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. We deliberately reserve the morning for this visit because the pandas are at their liveliest in this period. The base is home to over 100 giant pandas. You may see them devouring bamboo, dozing in the crooks of tree branches, or tumbling and chasing one another. If you are lucky, you may also encounter some newborn cubs in the glass-walled "Moon Nursery."

Rather than a zoo, the base is more like a semi-wild and bamboo-shaded park, making the visit more like an easy forest stroll. Besides the adorable giant pandas, you can also encounter the red pandas, and elegant black swans.

After the visit, head north to the Sanxingdui Museum — roughly 50 kilometers, about an hour by coach. Sit back and recharge for the mysteries ahead. Sanxingdui is the site of a lost Bronze Age kingdom that flourished more than 3,000 years ago. Here, a professional guide will lead you through the sacrificial pits that stunned the archaeological world when they were discovered in 1986. Discover a wealth of treasures, including a bronze standing figure over two meters tall, a nearly four-meter Sacred Tree, masks with wide, staring eyes, and a golden scepter. Widely recognized as the "source of Yangtze River civilization," the site will introduce you to a civilization lost for millennia.

💡Good to know: The tickets for the Sanxingdui Museum are extremely hard to come by, especially during peak travel season. We'll do everything we can to secure them. Should the tickets not come through, we will spend the afternoon exploring highlights of old Chengdu instead, including city history galleries at the Chengdu Museum, traditional courtyard houses, tea houses, and street snacks in the Qing-dynasty lanes of Kuanzhai Alleys, and locals' leisure life at People's Park.

At the end of the day, enjoy some time at Jinli, one of the most vibrant streets in Chengdu to experience local snacks and everyday Chengdu life. Sitting right beside Wuhou Shrine, the ancient street comes alive after dark as red lanterns flicker along the cobblestones. Try to entertain your stomach with san da pao, dan dan noodles, and wontons, and experience many local crafts, like sugar painting and paper cutting.

Enjoy your free time until the driver pick you up at the appointed time. You will be transferred to the railway station or airport for your high-speed train or flight to Guilin. The high-speed train ride takes about 5-6 hours, and the flight takes about 1.5 hours.

Upon your arrival at Guilin, your local guide will transfer you to your hotel in Guilin for check-in.

After a short rest, start your trip in Guilin with a visit to the Elephant Trunk Hill. It got its name for shaping like a giant elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River. Your guide will recommend the best spots and viewing platforms for great photos with Elephant Trunk Hill in the background.

Next, head to the Reed Flute Cave - another impressive example of Guilin's karst landforms. The cave is about 5 km from downtown Guilin, named after the flute-making reeds at its entrance. Walking along its 500-m walkway, you will be surrounded by dazzling stalactites and stone pillars formed by limestone deposits over millions of years. Crystal Palace is a highlight spot here, which was used as the Dragon King's palace in the classic TV series Journey to the West.

Start your morning with a transfer to the cruise pier about 40 minutes away. Please arrive early to allow time to collect tickets and clear security check.

During the 4–5 hours Li River cruise, you will immerse yourself in the otherworldly natural beauty as the river opens up, and the karst peaks begin closing in on both banks. You can head up to the deck and claim a spot for a better view and many great photo opportunities.

Key sights you can expect along the way include the misty scenery of Yangdi, the panoramic view of Langshi, the iconic Nine Horses Mural Hill, and the Yellow Cloth Shoal — the scene printed on the back of the 20 RMB note — among others.

Lunch is served on board, a home-style Chinese set menu or buffet depending on the boat. If you are a picky eater, please bring a few snacks.

Good to know:

• The top deck is the best place to watch the scenery but it can be windy — hold on to your hat.

• There are seats and restrooms in the cabin if you need a break from the sun.

The cruise ends at Longtoushan Pier, right next to Yangshuo town. Your driver will be waiting at the pier to take you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is about stepping into the countryside scenery in Yangshuo.

You can ride a bike to explore the postcard-like karst hills and rice paddies, pass by some tranquil villages, and cross quaint old stone bridges. To save time and energy, you can also rent an e-bike (optional, at an extra cost).

The two well-trodden cycling routes are:

• Ten-Mile Gallery: a roughly 10 km landscaped road — easy to follow, quicker to finish, and a good pick if your time is short.

• Yulong River (recommended): set off from Gongnong Bridge, ride past the old village of Jiuxian to Fuli Bridge, and follow the river for about 1.5–2 hours through rice fields, bamboo and bridge reflections, stopping whenever you like. This is the most pastoral ride of all.

After the cycling adventure, enjoy your night at the West Street, Yangshuo's oldest street — about 500 meters of flagstones lined with houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the 1970s and 80s, Western backpackers began arriving here, and many stayed for years, opening cafés and bars. That is how the street became one of China's earliest and best-known "foreigner streets".

Dinner ideas: Beer Fish, the local signature — Li River fish braised with beer, tomatoes and chili, mildly spicy and best with a bowl of rice. Other local flavors worth trying include Guilin rice noodles, stuffed river snails and bamboo rice.

After breakfast, say goodbye to the karst peaks as your driver takes you from Yangshuo back to Guilin (about 1–1.5 hours) to catch your high-speed train to Chongqing. Direct trains to Chongqing West take around four hours.

Upon arrival at Chongqing West, your local guide will meet you at the exit and take you to Chaotianmen Dock to board your Yangtze cruise. 

Before departure, you can claim a good spot on deck to catch the amazing nighscape of Chongqing. The golden lights of Hongya Cave's stilted houses, the lit-up Raffles City and other skyscrapers are at the most photogenic minutes before you sail.

Around 9 pm, after a safety briefing, the ship slips away from Chaotianmen as Chongqing's skyline unfolds behind you.

From tonight on, all meals, sightseeing and shore excursions aboard are arranged by the cruise line; you just follow the daily program and enjoy the river.

Travel Note: 

• Please confirm your boarding pier one day in advance. Cruise berths in Chongqing may change at short notice due to water levels, fog, ship size and draft, or channel control. Your guide will send the latest boarding information in advance. Please contact us if you don't receive it.

• Boarding usually runs from about 17:00 to 20:00, as confirmed by the cruise line. Once on board, check in at reception with your passport, collect your room card, drop your bags in your cabin, and take a first lap of the ship — find the deck, the restaurant and the bar.

Wake up to a river morning. Before the buffet breakfast, enjoy the sunrise, mist and ridges on both banks from either your balcony or the deck. If you like, practice Tai Chi with a professional instructor and enjoy a cup of coffee (services may vary by cruise).

The shore excursion in this morning is Fengdu Ghost City, on the north bank of the Yangtze — a cultural mountain with more than 2,000 years of history, long known as the "capital of the ghost kingdom". Here, you will follow a professional guide to learn legends, rituals and customs in Chinese underworld culture. The site weaves underworld lore with Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist and folk traditions, offering a fascinating window into how the Chinese have imagined the afterlife over two millennia.

From the mountain gate, you will tour the classic sites in sequence, including Naihe Bridge, Gate of Ghosts, Road to the Yellow Springs, Wangxiang Terrace, and Hall of the Heavenly King.

If you are interested to Chinese ancient architectural marvels, consider the shore excursion to Shibaozhai (optional, with additional cost). With a 12-story, this red wooden tower was built against the cliff, with the entire structure built without iron nails. As one of the tallest and best-preserved examples of traditional chuandou-style timber architecture in China, it is sometimes listed among the “Eight Wonders of the World” for its unusual construction.

Good to know:

• The shore excursions differ from ship to ship, and the above information is for reference only.

• A local guide will meet you when you disembark from the cruise ship and escort you throughout the shore excursion.

Today should be the most rewarding day of the cruise, as some of the most breathtaking scenery along the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River will unfold one after another. Onboard announcements usually point out the main sights, and you can head to the front deck for the widest views.

The first highlight today is Qutang Gorge, which is the shortest, narrowest, and most dramatic of the three gorges. Many cruise ships offer a shore excursion to White Emperor City (Baidi City) before passing the gorge. Many famous Chinese poems and legends are associated with White Emperor City, and it offers a great platform to marvel at Kuimen - the landscape featured on the CNY 10 note, and the gateway to the three gorges.

After getting back to the cruise, admire the dramatic scenery of Kuimen and Qutang Gorge from the deck until you cruise into Wu Gorge. As the ship winds through the gorge, you will be surrounded by a succession of steep peaks often shrouded in mist. Try to spot the Twelve Peaks of Wushan.

At the Wu Gorge section, a shore excursion to Shennv Stream (vary by cruise, may be optional, with additional cost) will be available. You will transfer to a small wooden boat to venture into the tranquil Shennv Stream. Look for hanging coffins on steep cliffs that rise almost vertically on both sides, and listen to the guide explain local customs and sing local folk songs.

Expect a Captain's Farewell Dinner in the evening.

After breakfast, check out and follow your guide off the ship at Maoping Pier in Zigui. From the pier, a bus will take you to the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest water conservancy project and hydropower station. Your guide will accompany you throughout the visit, explain details about its structure, five-step ship locks, the Three Gorges Ship Lift and advise on great spots for photos.

Optional activity: You can pay an additional fee to experience the Three Gorges Ship Lift,  what is essentially a “ship elevator” through the dam. You will hop on a vessel which can be lifted or lowered by 113 meters in about 40 minutes. It is currently the world's largest and most technically challenging ship lift.

The bus will drop you off at the Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang at around 12:30 PM if you visit the Three Gorges Dam only. If you add the Three Gorges Ship Lift, expect to arrive at the tourist center at around 1:30 PM. After collecting your luggage, your driver will transfer you to the railway station for you high-speed train to Shanghai which takes about 6.5–8 hours.

The driver in Shanghai will be ready to pick you up at the station and escort you to your downtown hotel in Shanghai.

Good to know:

• The cruise will reach Xiling Gorge at night, so you will wake up to a Chinese landscape painting come to life.

• If you have a lot of luggage, it is recommended to leave the luggage at the lobby and the cruise company will transfer it to the  Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang in advance.

Today, follow your local guide in Shanghai to discover why this city is often called the "Paris of the East." From world-class museums and classical gardens to futuristic towers and iconic architecture, the city is where East and West, past and future harmoniously coexist.  

Start in Pudong's Lujiazui financial district, home to a trio of landmark skyscrapers. At 632 meters, Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the third-tallest on earth, twisting a dramatic 120-degree twist from base to peak.

Ride one of the world's fastest elevators (64 km/h) to the Shanghai Observatory on the 118th floor for breathtaking 360-degree views with the Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center spread below.

Next, head to the Shanghai Museum (East) to see some of the best examples of ancient Chinese art. The new building itself is a striking sight, whose modern, sweeping facade looks like river water, and is inspired by Shanghai's spirit of embracing all that the world brings to its shores.

Inside the museum, the numerous displaying bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and painting, jade, antique furniture, coins, and sculpture make it like a iving encyclopedia of Chinese art.

The highlight of the museum is the Da Ke Ding, a Western Zhou ritual vessel over 3,000 years old. Cast into its inner wall is a long inscription recording stories of the Zhou royal house.

Continue to Yu Garden, a classical Jiangnan-style private garden founded in the Ming Dynasty (1559). Hidden in the heart of Shanghai, it offers a striking counterpoint to the modern skyscrapers of Lujiazui. Wandering through its pavilions, ponds, rockeries, and winding corridors, every step reveals a new scene.

The Exquisite Jade Rock (Yu Linglong) featuring delicate hollows and perforations is the garden's centerpiece. The Nine-Turn Bridge and the Mid-Lake Pavilion are iconic photo stops.

Several minutes' walk away, the red-lantern-lined lanes of the Yuyuan Bazaar are filled with century-old shops. You can sample local specialties such as Nanxiang xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), browse traditional craft stalls, and soak up the old-Shanghai buzz and classical culture.

In the afternoon, stroll along Nanjing Road, China's most famous shopping street. Running east to west, it's lined with time-honored shops, modern department stores, and small boutiques.

Follow the pedestrian street all the way east and you'll reach the Bund. Along the Huangpu River stands a row of dozens of century-old buildings in a mix of neo-classical, Gothic, and Baroque styles, all of which are testaments to a hundred years of Shanghai's history.

From the riverside promenade, the Huangpu River stretches before you, with the Lujiazui skyscrapers clearly visible on the opposite bank. As dusk falls, old and new cityscapes come together in a single frame, creating Shanghai's most classic photo scene.

At the end of the day, your driver will drop you off at your hotel in Shanghai.

Travel Notes:

• Yu Garden is closed on Mondays. If your visit falls on a Monday, your guide can suggest an alternative such as the nearby City God Temple or the Former French Concession instead.

• The Shanghai Museum (East) is shut on Tuesdays. On those days the museum at People's Square takes its place, or another city sight.

Your 8-day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai group tour draws to a close today. Enjoy a final stretch of free time in Shanghai to explore anything you missed before your driver escorts you to the airport or station for your onward flight or high-speed train.

Trip Extension Ideas: If you'd rather continue on to other destinations in China than head straight home, we'd be glad to arrange an extension for you — just let us know what you have in mind!