11-Day China Highlights Tour: Beijing to Shanghai

Your flight lands at Beijing Capital International Airport. An airport representative meets you in the arrival hall, then a private vehicle transfers you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free. Rest after your long flight or take a short walk near the hotel to settle into Beijing before tomorrow’s Forbidden City and hutong sightseeing begins.

Begin at Tiananmen Square, then enter the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) through Tiananmen Gate for a guided walk through the imperial halls and courtyards. Continue to Jingshan Park for a panoramic view over the palace roofs below. After lunch, explore Houhai and Nanluoguxiang hutongs, with a teahouse stop along the way, before returning to your hotel for the evening rest.

Gallery: Forbidden City Hall of Supreme HarmonyForbidden City Courtyard

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Drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall, a well-preserved scenic section near Beijing. Walk the ramparts and watchtowers, using hiking paths or the cable car as preferred on your ticket arrangement for the day. On the return, stop at a jade carving factory, then take photos at the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube at Olympic Park before hotel drop-off later in the day.

Gallery: Mutianyu Great Wall RampartsMutianyu Great Wall Watchtowers

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Visit the Temple of Heaven, where Ming and Qing emperors once held harvest ceremonies, then stroll nearby hutong lanes and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Beijing. In the afternoon, transfer to Beijing Railway Station for your included high-speed train journey to Xi’an. On arrival in Xi’an, check in to your hotel and rest for tomorrow’s Terracotta Army visit.

Gallery: Temple of Heaven

In the morning, visit the Museum of Qin Shi Huang’s Terracotta Army and join a pottery workshop to make a small figurine where offered on site. In the afternoon, continue to the Xi’an Bell Tower and Gao Family Courtyard for paper cutting and shadow puppetry displays. End with a stroll through the Muslim Quarter before returning to your hotel for the night.

Gallery: Terracotta Army PitTerracotta Army Figures

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After check-out, walk the Xi’an City Wall for city views and photos along the Ming Dynasty ramparts at a relaxed pace. Continue to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and North Square, then visit the Hanyang Mausoleum as listed on your schedule. In the afternoon, transfer to Xi’an Airport for your flight to Guilin and check in to your Guilin hotel on arrival.

Gallery: Xi’an City WallGiant Wild Goose Pagoda

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Depart Guilin in the morning for about a two-hour drive to the Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area in the mountains. Hike across the terraced hillsides for mountain views and fresh air, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in a minority village within the scenic area. After the afternoon walk among the terraces, drive back to Guilin and return to your hotel.

Gallery: Longji Rice Terraces

Board a Li River cruise from Guilin toward Yangshuo through classic karst peaks, emerald water, and riverside farmland scenery along the scenic way. On arrival in Yangshuo town, disembark and explore West Street by foot or sightseeing bus among its cafes, bars, and local shops. Return to your Guilin hotel afterward for the evening after this classic karst river day.

Gallery: Li River CruiseYangshuo West Street

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Visit Reed Flute Cave, then continue to Elephant Trunk Hill beside the Li River, with time along nearby lakes and the Gold and Silver Twin Pagodas as listed today. In the afternoon, transfer to Guilin Airport for your flight to Shanghai city. Your Shanghai guide meets you on arrival and transfers you to your hotel for check-in and evening rest.

Gallery: Reed Flute Cave FormationsReed Flute Cave Chambers

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In the morning, walk old Shanghai shikumen lanes, then take a guided stroll along the Bund among the historic waterfront buildings. At midday visit Yu Garden, a classical Ming Dynasty Jiangnan garden in the old city. In the afternoon continue to the Jade Buddha Temple, the Shanghai Silk Museum, riverside leisure time, and the Shanghai Tower as listed before returning to your hotel.

Gallery: Yu GardenJade Buddha Temple

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After breakfast, enjoy free time until your scheduled departure transfer from the hotel. According to your flight time, a private vehicle takes you to Shanghai Pudong International Airport for your onward journey, ending this 11-day China highlights tour from Beijing through Xi’an and Guilin to Shanghai. Thank you for traveling this route with East Marvel, and have a pleasant flight.