- 4.9/5 1256 Latest reviews
- Destination: China
- Duration: 16 Days
- Tour Type: Private & Bespoke
- Tour Style: Classic
About This Trip
This 16-day private trip crosses Colorful China from north to south: the Great Wall and imperial Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, the limestone peaks of Guilin, the misty granite summits of Huangshan, and the canals of Suzhou, before ending in Shanghai. Most of the long legs use high-speed trains and short domestic flights, so you spend more time at the sights than on the road.
You walk a restored section of the Wall at Mutianyu, stand in front of thousands of clay warriors, cruise the Li River, climb the rice terraces at Longji and spend a night in the Yellow Mountains. It is a tailor-made trip with a private guide in each city, built for travelers who want variety and don't mind early starts and a fair amount of walking.
Summary
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 3
Beijing
Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall
4 - 5
Xi'an
High-speed train, Terracotta Army, Muslim Quarter
6 - 9
Guilin and Yangshuo
City wall and pagoda, Longji rice terraces, Li River cruise, Yangshuo countryside
10 - 11
Hangzhou
West Lake, museums, paper umbrella workshop
12 - 13
Huangshan
Xidi village, Yellow Mountain, sunrise
14
Suzhou
Classical gardens, Tongli water town
15 - 16
Shanghai
The Bund, Yu Garden, skyline, departure
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. Rest after the flight. Your guide visits in the evening to go over the plan and the early starts to come.
- Beijing
- Day 2: Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven
Start at Tiananmen Square and walk through the Forbidden City, the palace of Ming and Qing emperors. After lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven, where locals gather in the park to practice tai chi, play cards and sing. Book the Forbidden City slot well ahead, since entry is limited.
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- Beijing
- Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall
Drive about 1.5 hours to Mutianyu, a restored section of the Wall with watchtowers and forested ridges. Take the cable car up and walk a stretch along the top. Back in the city, wander the hutong lanes in the evening.
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- Beijing
- Day 4: High-Speed Train to Xi'an
Take the high-speed train to Xi’an, about 4.5 hours, and spend the afternoon on the old city. Cycle or walk the top of the city wall at sunset.
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- Xi’an
- Day 5: Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter
Visit the Terracotta Army, where thousands of life-size warriors stand in pits. Go early, since tour groups arrive by mid-morning. In the evening, eat your way through the Muslim Quarter’s food stalls.
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- Xi’an
- Day 6: Xi'an to Guilin
Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in the morning, then fly to Guilin, about 2 hours. Check in and take an easy evening walk by the lakes and pagodas of the city center.
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- Guilin
- Day 7: Longji Rice Terraces
Drive into the mountains to the Longji terraces, named the Dragon’s Backbone for the way they ripple down the hillsides. Hike between villages of the Yao and Zhuang peoples, with time to stop for local tea or lunch. The terraces look best when flooded in spring or golden in autumn.
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- Guilin
- Day 8: Li River to Yangshuo
Drift down the Li River past the limestone peaks shown on the 20-yuan note. In Yangshuo, walk the pedestrian West Street and see the town from the water. An optional evening show on the river is available at extra cost.
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- Yangshuo
- Day 9: Yangshuo Countryside and Fly to Hangzhou
Cycle or take a bamboo raft through the countryside along the Yulong River. Then transfer to the airport and fly to Hangzhou.
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- Hangzhou
- Day 10: West Lake and Craft Museums
Take a boat on West Lake and walk the causeways and gardens that have inspired Chinese poets for a thousand years. Visit the museums of tea, silk and umbrellas, and try painting your own paper umbrella.
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- Hangzhou
- Day 11: Hangzhou to Huangshan and Xidi
Travel by high-speed train to the Huangshan area and visit Xidi, a UNESCO-listed village of white walls and carved wooden gates. Your guide explains how Hui-style merchant houses were built and lived in.
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- Hangzhou
- Day 12: Huangshan Yellow Mountain
Ride the cable car up and walk the stone paths along the ridges, where twisted pines grow from the rock and clouds fill the valleys. Stay at a hotel on or near the summit. Check the forecast, since fog can hide the views.
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- Huangshan
- Day 13: Sunrise, Descent and Drive to Suzhou
Watch sunrise from the viewpoint if the sky is clear, then take the cable car down. The transfer to Suzhou takes about 5 hours, so you arrive in the evening and rest.
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- Suzhou
- Day 14: Suzhou Gardens and Tongli, Then Shanghai
Walk through Suzhou’s classical gardens, which are built to look like paintings, then spend time in Tongli, a canal village with stone bridges. Take the short train to Shanghai in the late afternoon.
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- Shanghai
- Day 15: Shanghai City Icons & Skyline Views
Begin your exploration of this dynamic city a fitting grand finale to your Colorful China experience at the Shanghai Museum, home to an extensive collection of ancient Chinese treasures such as bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and sculptures. Walk along the iconic Bund, Shanghai’s famous waterfront, and continue through the leafy streets of the Former French Concession. End the day at the Shanghai Tower, currently Colorful China’s tallest skyscraper, where an observation deck offers spectacular views over the Huangpu River.
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- Shanghai
- Day 16: Departure from Shanghai
Transfer to Pudong Airport for your flight home.
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Your Colorful China journey comes to an end today. Enjoy some free time before your private guide escorts you to the airport for your onward flight home. Colorful China Colorful China Colorful Chin Colorful Chin Colorful Chin Colorful Chin Colorful Chin
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