11-Day China Highlights Tour: Beijing to Shanghai

11 days / 10 nights · Beijing · Xi’an · Guilin · Shanghai

11Days
4 citiesBeijing · Xi’an · Guilin · Shanghai
USD 2550per person

Trip overview

Travel

11 days, 4 cities (Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Shanghai)

Accommodation

10 nights in superior hotels across Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, and Shanghai

Meals

Breakfast and lunch as listed (B/L per itinerary); special diets on request

Destinations

Beijing · Xi’an · Guilin · Shanghai

Tour features: An 11-day first-time China route from Beijing to Shanghai via Xi’an and Guilin, covering Mutianyu Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, Longji Rice Terraces, the Li River, and Shanghai’s Bund and skyline, with private transfers and English-speaking guides.

Journey highlights

Forbidden City
Day 2 — Beijing - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Hutongs
Mutianyu Great Wall
Day 3 — Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall & Olympic Park
Temple of Heaven
Day 4 — Beijing - Temple of Heaven & High-Speed Train to Xi’an
Terracotta Army
Day 5 — Xi’an - Terracotta Army, Bell Tower & Muslim Quarter
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Day 6 — Xi’an - City Wall, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda & Flight to Guilin
Longji Rice Terraces
Day 7 — Guilin - Longji Rice Terraces
Li River Cruise
Day 8 — Guilin - Li River Cruise & Yangshuo West Street
Reed Flute Cave Formations
Day 9 — Guilin - Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill & Flight to Shanghai

Day-by-day itinerary

11 days / 10 nights · Beijing · Xi’an · Guilin · Shanghai

Overall itinerary

Route Overview

1Beijing
2Xi’an
3Guilin
4Yangshuo
5Shanghai
Interactive route map — tap a pin for stop details, or expand it to full screen.
DAY 1

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.

Included: Private Airport Transfer

Meals: — · Stay: Crowne Plaza Beijing, Chaoyang U-City Hotel or similar hotel

DAY 2

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.

Included: Tiananmen Square; Forbidden City; Jingshan Park; Nanluoguxiang Hutong; Teahouse Stop

Optional: Evening program; Peking duck dinner

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Crowne Plaza Beijing, Chaoyang U-City Hotel or similar hotel

Forbidden City
Forbidden City
DAY 3

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.

Included: Mutianyu Great Wall; Jade Carving Factory; Bird’s Nest (National Stadium); Water Cube (National Aquatics Center)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Crowne Plaza Beijing, Chaoyang U-City Hotel or similar hotel

Mutianyu Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall
DAY 4

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.

Included: Temple of Heaven; Hutong Walk; High-Speed Train Beijing to Xi’an

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Sofitel near People's Square or similar hotel

Temple of Heaven
Temple of Heaven
DAY 5

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.

Included: Terracotta Army; Pottery Workshop; Bell Tower; Gao Family Courtyard; Paper Cutting and Shadow Puppetry; Muslim Quarter

Optional: Tang Dynasty Show

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Sofitel near People's Square or similar hotel

Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army
DAY 6

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.

Included: Xi’an City Wall; Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and North Square; Hanyangling Mausoleum; Flight Xi’an to Guilin

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Guilin Sheraton Hotel or similar hotel

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
DAY 7

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.

Included: Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area; Longji Terrace Hiking

Optional: Night Cruise on the Four Lakes

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Guilin Sheraton Hotel or similar hotel

Longji Rice Terraces
Longji Rice Terraces
DAY 8

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.

Included: Li River Cruise; Yangshuo West Street

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Guilin Sheraton Hotel or similar hotel

Li River Cruise
Li River Cruise
DAY 9

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.

Included: Reed Flute Cave; Elephant Trunk Hill; Li River and Lakes Walk; Gold and Silver Twin Pagodas; Flight Guilin to Shanghai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Shanghai Central Hotel or similar hotel

Reed Flute Cave Formations
Reed Flute Cave Formations
DAY 10

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.

Included: Old Shanghai Shikumen; The Bund; Yu Garden; Jade Buddha Temple; Shanghai Silk Museum; Riverside Promenade; Shanghai Tower

Optional: ERA Acrobatic Performance

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch · Stay: Shanghai Central Hotel or similar hotel

Yu Garden
Yu Garden
DAY 11

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.

Included: Private Airport Departure Transfer

Meals: Breakfast · Stay: —

Hand-picked stays

Hotel class and cruise cabin are matched to your preference — these are the listed stays for this program.

Beijing · 3 nights
Crowne Plaza Beijing, Chaoyang U-City Hotel or similar hotel
Xi’an · 2 nights
Sofitel near People's Square or similar hotel
Guilin · 3 nights
Guilin Sheraton Hotel or similar hotel
Shanghai · 2 nights
Shanghai Central Hotel or similar hotel

What's included

Price guide

From USD 2550

Per person; we will email a tailored rate for your dates and group size

Your inclusions

  • Accommodations as listed
  • Private air-conditioned transportation
  • Beijing to Xi’an high-speed train
  • Domestic flights Xi’an to Guilin and Guilin to Shanghai (baggage allowance subject to airline rules; local fees may apply)
  • English-speaking tour guide
  • Admission tickets for scheduled activities
  • 24/7 support

Not included

  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa fees (if applicable)
  • Optional shows and personal expenses
  • Tips
  • Domestic flight fuel or tax surcharges if billed locally

Traveler moments

Trip photo
Trip photo
Trip photo
Trip photo
Trip photo

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