12-Day China Tour: Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin & Shanghai

Arrive in Beijing, the starting city of this 12-day China tour through Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, and Shanghai. Your guide provides an airport meet and greet, then transfers you by private vehicle to your downtown hotel, about 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. Check in and rest to adjust to the time zone before Forbidden City and Great Wall sightseeing begins.

Begin at Tiananmen Square, then enter the Forbidden City through Tiananmen Gate, the Ming and Qing imperial palace complex. After lunch, continue to the Houhai area for classic hutong and waterway lanes of old Beijing. Explore nearby Nanluoguxiang, one of the better-preserved historic hutong districts, with a teahouse stop as listed. Optional evening plans include a show or Peking duck dinner at your own expense.

Gallery: Forbidden City palace hallsForbidden City courtyard roofs

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Visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, a well-preserved stretch north of Beijing with forested hills and a calmer pace than more crowded sections. Optional cable car access is available at your own expense. After lunch, stop at a jade carving workshop to see material selection, carving, and polishing demonstrations. On the return drive, pause for exterior photos at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube.

Gallery: Mutianyu Great Wall rampartsMutianyu Great Wall watchtowers

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In the morning visit the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors held ceremonies to worship Heaven. Stroll nearby hutong lanes and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon take the high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an. Your Xi'an guide meets you at the station and transfers you to the hotel for check-in and rest before Terracotta Army sightseeing tomorrow.

Gallery: Temple of Heaven Hall of PrayerTemple of Heaven park grounds

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In the morning visit the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses to see the underground army in the excavation pits, with a pottery workshop stop as listed. After lunch visit the Xi'an Bell Tower in the historic city center. Spend free time in the Muslim Quarter for local snacks, souvenirs, and evening market lanes before returning to your hotel.

Gallery: Terracotta Army excavation pitTerracotta warriors battle ranks

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In the morning visit the Xi'an Ancient City Wall for a leisure walk along the ramparts overlooking the historic core and newer skyline. In the afternoon take the high-speed train from Xi'an to Chengdu. On arrival, transfer to your Chengdu hotel and rest ahead of the panda breeding base and Kuanzhai Alley program tomorrow on this Beijing to Shanghai China highlights route.

Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see giant pandas in their enclosures during morning activity hours, the best window for viewing. Return to the city for an authentic Sichuan lunch at a popular local restaurant. Continue to People's Park, then stroll Kuanzhai Alley, a renovated late-Qing and early-Republican street area for western Sichuan architecture, snacks, shopping, and photos.

Gallery: Chengdu panda breeding enclosureGiant panda at Chengdu base

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Start with a brief Sichuan cooking experience to prepare classic local dishes and taste Sichuan flavors. Visit the Jinsha Site Museum, then continue to Wuhou Temple, dedicated to Zhuge Liang and the Shu Han figures of the Three Kingdoms period. Stroll Jinli Ancient Street before transferring to the airport for your domestic flight from Chengdu to Guilin. Your Guilin guide meets you and transfers you to the hotel.

Gallery: Wuhou Temple garden hallsWuhou Temple historic grounds

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Board a Li River cruise from Guilin toward Yangshuo and watch the karst peaks, river bends, and village farmland along the classic scenic corridor, with buffet lunch on board. On arrival in Yangshuo, walk West Street or take a sightseeing bus as arranged. Time for cycling along the Yulong River is included where the daily schedule allows, then return to your Guilin hotel for the night.

Gallery: Li River karst peaks near YangshuoYangshuo river and limestone hills

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Explore Reed Flute Cave, a lit karst cave system outside central Guilin. Continue to Elephant Trunk Hill, the city's emblematic limestone peak shaped like an elephant drinking from the river. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight from Guilin to Shanghai. Your Shanghai guide meets you at the airport and takes you to the hotel to begin the final city stay on this 12-day China tour.

Gallery: Reed Flute Cave illuminated chambersReed Flute Cave karst formations

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Explore Shikumen lanes of old Shanghai, then take a guided walk along The Bund among the historic waterfront buildings. Visit Yu Garden, a classical Jiangnan garden from the Ming dynasty, and continue to Jade Buddha Temple, known for its jade Buddha statues. Include the Shanghai Silk Museum, riverside promenade time, and a visit to the Shanghai Tower observation level for city views as listed in your program.

Gallery: The Bund Huangpu River skylineThe Bund historic waterfront buildings

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Enjoy free time in Shanghai after breakfast until your transfer to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. This concludes the 12-day China tour covering Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu pandas, the Guilin and Yangshuo Li River corridor, and Shanghai city highlights. Optional Maglev train access toward Pudong Airport is available at your own expense, or continue with a private car transfer to the terminal for departure.