Best of China: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin & Shanghai - 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing, Peking Duck Dining Experience

Welcome to China's sprawling capital, Beijing! Meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to your hotel, where you can relax until dinner. In the evening, follow your guide to a local restaurant to indulge in a delicious Peking duck characterized by its crispy skin and succulent meat. Watch as the chef carves the duck at the table and then presents an array of condiments and thin pancakes to accompany the slices. Fill your wrap with hoisin sauce, scallions, cucumber, and duck, then enjoy your first meal in China before returning to the hotel for the night.

Day 2: Explore the Forbidden City, Take a Pedicab Through the City's Hutongs

Spend your first full day in China exploring Beijing's highlights, starting in the heart of the city at Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square. Follow your guide across the massive space, looking out at the Monument to the People's Heroes, the National Museum of China, and the Mao Zedong Mausoleum until you reach the northern end of the square, where you can enter the Forbidden City. This UNESCO-listed complex served as the imperial residence for nearly five centuries, housing 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Explore the expansive courtyards and discover the array of meticulously designed halls, pavilions, and gardens. Don't miss the intricate details of the palace's architecture, like the iconic yellow roofs and ornate dragon carvings. In the afternoon, take a pedicab or stroll through some of Beijing's hutongs (narrow streets or alleys lined with traditional homes) to learn about the locals' way of life. As you weave through the charming neighborhoods, watch as residents shop at local markets, visit small temples, and meander through the streets.

Day 3: Visit the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall & Changling Tomb 

No visit to China is complete without a stop at the iconic Great Wall, which was built over 2,000 years ago, starting in the seventh century BCE. First, transfer to the Mutianyu section of the wall, renowned for its well-preserved watchtowers and fortifications, so you can better understand its strategic importance during ancient times. Then, ascend the stone steps and walk along the wall, enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The trek ranges from two to six hours, depending on the route you and your guide choose. 

After exploring the wall, head back down to the Changling Tomb, one of many Ming tombs in the Changping district. This one, in particular, is the tomb of Emperor Zhudi, who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Ming dynasty, and his Empress Xushi. To enter the tomb's main hall, traverse the Sacred Way, flanked by carved stone statues and dense foliage. Explore the burial chamber inside and pay your respects to the emperor and empress while you learn more about their contributions to China's rich history. From here, return to your hotel in Beijing.

Day 4: Leisurely Tour of the Summer Palace & Temple of Heaven

Take one last tour of Beijing's landmarks, starting at the UNESCO-listed Temple of Heaven, built in the 15th century so emperors could pray for good harvests and divine favor. The complex spans 657 acres (267 ha) and comprises several structures, including the iconic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, home to a triple-tiered circular structure that stands as the complex's centerpiece. Take a walk across the expansive grounds adorned with jaw-dropping gates, pavilions, and cypress trees. Then, head to the Summer Palace, nestled on the shores of Kunming Lake.

Discover the intricately designed halls, pavilions, and temples to understand the opulence enjoyed by emperors during the Qing dynasty. Enter the Longevity Hall for panoramic views of the glittering lake and the surrounding gardens, then head outside to see it all up close. Stroll over traditional bridges, including the beautiful Seventeen-Arch Bridge, to see the colorful pagodas dotting the landscape. After exploring the palace on foot, switch to a boat to sail across the lake and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding hills, historic bridges, and iconic pavilions, such as the Marble Boat.

Day 5: Fly to Xi'an, Discover the City Walls, Drum Tower & Muslim Quarter

Bid farewell to Beijing this morning as you head to the airport to catch a 2.5-hour flight to Xi'an, the starting point of the Silk Road and the capital of several of China's most significant dynasties. Meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up. When you're ready, set off on a half-day city tour, starting with a walk along the ancient city walls, originally constructed during the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century. Enjoy panoramic views of the modern cityscape outside and historic quarters within the walls before continuing to Drum Tower, also built in the 14th century.

Climb the steps to the top of the tower, where you can find a fascinating collection of drums, including replicas you can try playing. After taking in the view, head to the Muslim Quarter, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty when Xi'an attracted plenty of Muslim merchants from the Middle East and Central Asia. Stroll through the bustling quarter lined with traditional shops, vibrant market stalls, and historic mosques. Stop to try authentic dishes, like a lamb kebab on freshly baked flatbread, amid the blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture. 

Day 6: Visit Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

After breakfast, your guide will take you to Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum to discover the famous Terracotta Army. Step inside to see the vast collection of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots that were buried to guard the emperor in the afterlife. Wander through the excavation pits to understand the sheer scale and intricate craftsmanship of the terracotta figures, each with distinct facial features, expressions, posture, and attire. Don't miss the on-site museum that showcases the emperor's life and the construction of his mausoleum.

Day 7: Train to Guilin, Explore the Reed Flute Cave

Trade Xi'an's bustling streets for the calm countryside as you head to the airport to catch a two-hour flight to Guilin in southern China, renowned for its dramatic karst mountains. Try to snag a window seat so you can enjoy picturesque views of karst peaks, lush fields, and winding rivers before landing. When you arrive, meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to the hotel to check in and freshen up. Then, you'll hit the ground running with a tour to Reed Flute Cave, just 15 minutes outside of the city. 

This limestone cave is renowned for its stalactites, stalagmites, and rock formations illuminated by colorful lights, creating a mystical atmosphere. Follow your guide through the cave's pathways to discover chambers adorned with namesake reed-like formations that emit melodious sounds when struck. The cave's largest chamber, the Crystal Palace of the Dragon King, showcases intricate stone pillars and a reflecting pool. During the war, it was used as an air-raid shelter as it could hold up to 1,000 people. After exploring the cave, return to the city to grab dinner.

Day 8: Day Trip to the Longji Rice Terraces, Meet the Zhuang & Yao People

Leave the city behind for the day as you transfer two hours to the Longji Rice Terraces, known as the "Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces" in English because the terraced fields resemble the scales of a dragon's back when viewed from a distance. When you arrive, follow your guide up the mountain for 45 minutes or opt for a shuttle ride to the top.

Look out at the rice fields stretching across the rolling hills that change with the seasons—flooded with water in spring, vibrant green in summer, golden in autumn, and bare but beautiful in winter. The area is also home to 10 ethnic tribes, like the Zhuang and Yao people, so you may spot their traditional villages nestled in the terraces. After spending the day exploring the rice fields, transfer back to your hotel in Guilin.

Day 9: Transfer to Yangshuo via Riverboat, Stroll Along West Street

Continue your exploration of the lush Guanxi region today as you transfer to Yangshuo, a small town surrounded by karst mountains. To get there, you'll board a boat and cruise down the tranquil Li River, combining your transfer with a little sightseeing. Enjoy views of dramatic limestone peaks, lush bamboo groves, and tranquil villages as you cruise down the river. Keep your eyes peeled for landmarks like Mural Hill, named for its resemblance to a series of ancient Chinese ink paintings cascading down its limestone cliffs.

Further downstream, you'll see the Yellow Cloth Shoal, a renowned section of the river surrounded by seven peaks resembling fairies. If you have a 20 yuan note, you'll recognize the same view. When you arrive in Yangshuo, you'll head straight to Xi Jie, better known as "West Street," for its Western-style bars, restaurants, hotels, and shops amid the traditional Chinese landscape. Enjoy free time to shop for souvenirs or indulge in local delights like Yangshuo beer fish or stuffed Li River snails paired with a local beer. 

Day 10: Explore Yangshuo's Scenic Countryside, Fly to Shanghai

Start your day with an active adventure as you set off on a bicycle ride through rural Yangshuo. Cycle past verdant rice paddies, karst mountains, and picturesque villages dotted with traditional homes and ancient temples. You may encounter farmers tending their crops while water buffalo graze nearby or locals washing their clothes in meandering streams, giving you a glimpse at their peaceful life in the countryside. 

Then, trade the bicycle for a bamboo raft operated by local fishermen and farmers to cruise down the Yulong River. Drift gently under ancient stone bridges and past traditional villages and terraced fields. The forest is teeming with life on both sides of the river, so keep your eyes peeled for herons, egrets, ducks, and geese. After spending the day immersed in Yangshuo's natural beauty, it's time to transfer one hour to the airport in Guilin to catch a 2.5-hour flight to the exciting city of Shanghai on China's eastern coast.

Day 12: Depart Shanghai 

After spending 12 days discovering four iconic Chinese cities, it's time to bid farewell. If you have time before your flight, you could head to Nanjing Road, one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. Browse the array of luxury boutiques, department stores, and local shops to pick up some last-minute souvenirs. Visit one of the street food stalls to try some more Shanghainese dishes before you go, like shengjian bao and pan-fried soup dumplings filled with meat. When it's time, return to the hotel to grab your bags and meet your driver to transfer to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!