Beijing, Xi'anShanghai
The shortest route that covers the Wall, the warriors, and the river city. Built for a first China trip when time is the constraint.
Ten days, three cities, private drivers and local guides arranged around your party. Beijing for the imperial spine, Xi'an for the dynasty that came before it, Shanghai for the present-day. We pace this route around one good thing per morning and one quiet afternoon. The Wall before the convoys, the warriors before the school groups, the Bund at the light photographers wait for.
Per person, twin share, your choice of hotels · selected hotels
Indicative · your trip is priced when we design it.
- Hotels
- Guide
- Domestic flights
Private 5-seater · from US$340/day
Driver and bilingual guide (English & Chinese) included throughout.
Ten days,
three cities,
every handoff clear.
- Days 1-4
The capital and the Wall
Four nights at a hotel walking distance from the central spine. A side-gate entry to the Forbidden City before the main gate opens, a 5:00 am departure for the Wall at Mutianyu, a quiet hutong courtyard for lunch, and an evening at the Temple of Heaven while singing groups disperse.
This stop- Forbidden City via the side gate before mid-morning crowds
- The Great Wall at Mutianyu with sunrise on the parapet
- Hutong courtyard lunch the locals book a week ahead
- Temple of Heaven at dusk, with kite-flyers in the park
- Days 5-7
The dynasty before
High-speed rail down at mid-morning, three nights inside the old walled city. The Terracotta Warriors at first opening, an early bicycle ride along the city wall, a quiet evening in the Muslim Quarter when the food carts are setting up. You are met at Xi'an North station with the next transfer already arranged.
This stop- Terracotta Warriors before the school groups arrive
- Xi'an City Wall by bicycle at sunrise
- Huaqing Palace and the hot spring archaeology
- Muslim Quarter food walk at dusk
- Days 8-10
The river city, present tense
Two-hour flight east. Three nights on or behind the Bund. Mornings on the colonial waterfront, an afternoon in the French Concession, an evening at the Pudong skyline from a 50th-floor terrace. We close the trip with your airport transfer confirmed before the final day.
This stop- The Bund at the photographer's hour
- French Concession plane-tree streets and 1920s cafés
- Yu Garden and the old town with a local guide
- Pudong skyline from a 50th-floor terrace
Ten days,
no wasted day.
Transfers are arranged before each city change, with clear handoffs at every station and airport.
We start every icon before the convoys arrive. Written into the service standard, not a sales line.
Three options per city before you confirm. Your choice of category.
No jade factory. No silk showroom. No pearl-market detour, ever.
Hand us the dream,
We carry it through.
From your first enquiry to your last airport pickup, our specialists design your trip and stay in contact every step of the way. The guides, drivers and hotels you'll meet are part of our trusted network we've worked with for years, briefed to the same standards.
- Dedicated specialists, start to finish
- Guides briefed to our standards
- Fully transparent, no hidden costs
- No deposit until you confirm
Stretch the route,
the natural next step.
The Yangtze (+4 days)
The same route with three nights on the river through the gorges between Xi'an and Shanghai.
Read this journey
Chengdu and the pandas (+3 days)
Two-hour flight south from Xi'an for the panda base, Sichuan tea houses, and a hot-pot night.
Read this experience
Suzhou and Hangzhou (+3 days)
From Shanghai by 30-minute bullet train, two of the quietest gardens in eastern China.
Read this destination
Jack Guo
Senior Travel Specialist
Jack has spent ten years working with the guides, drivers and hoteliers across China. He'll be your contact from first enquiry to final airport pickup.
Tell us about this journey
Five quick questions. We'll send you a tailored draft of this journey and the price within one business day. No deposit. No hard-sell.