Beijing, Xi'an, the YangtzeShanghai
The bestseller pattern. Beijing for the Wall, Xi'an for the warriors, three nights through the Three Gorges, Shanghai for the close.
Fourteen days, four anchors, private drivers and local guides arranged for the land legs, and a five-star river cabin on the Yangtze. The route most first-time travellers want, paced with enough nights for the icons that get cut from shorter versions and a river cabin one deck higher than the standard package choice.
Per person, twin share, your choice of hotels · selected hotels
Indicative · your trip is priced when we design it.
- Hotels
- Cruise
- Guide
- Domestic flights
Private 5-seater · from US$340/day
Driver and bilingual guide (English & Chinese) included throughout.
Fourteen days,
land then river
then land again.
- Days 1-4
The capital and the Wall
Four nights walking distance from the central spine. Side-gate entry to the Forbidden City, sunrise on the Wall at Mutianyu, a quiet hutong courtyard lunch, Temple of Heaven at dusk. Airport pickup and station transfer are arranged before you arrive.
This stop- Forbidden City via the side gate before crowds
- The Great Wall at Mutianyu with sunrise on the parapet
- Hutong courtyard lunch booked the week before
- Temple of Heaven at dusk with the singing groups
- Days 5-7
The dynasty before
High-speed rail south. Three nights inside the old walled city. Warriors at first opening, the city wall by bicycle at sunrise, Huaqing Palace, and an evening in the Muslim Quarter. You are met at Xi'an North with the next leg already briefed.
This stop- Terracotta Warriors before the school groups
- Xi'an City Wall by bicycle at sunrise
- Huaqing Palace and the imperial hot springs
- Muslim Quarter food walk at dusk
- Days 8-11
Three nights on the river
Flight to Chongqing, a hot-pot dinner on the riverfront, then aboard at dusk for the downstream cruise. Three nights through the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling Gorges. Premium-deck cabin with a private balcony, side-boat excursion up the Goddess Stream, an afternoon at the Three Gorges Dam observation deck.
This stop- Chongqing hot-pot dinner on the riverfront before boarding
- Premium-deck cabin with balcony, not interior
- Goddess Stream side-boat through the karst
- Three Gorges Dam observation deck
- Days 12-14
The river city, present tense
Disembark at Yichang, fly to Shanghai. Three nights on or behind the Bund. Mornings on the colonial waterfront, an afternoon in the French Concession, evening from the Pudong skyline. We close the trip with your final airport transfer confirmed before the last 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
Fourteen days,
the river earns it.
Premium-deck cabin on the Yangtze, not the lower-deck cabin the package operators book. Private balcony, not a porthole.
Same driver across Beijing and Xi'an, met at every station. Yichang to Shanghai handover is briefed in writing.
Every icon timed before the convoys. Wall sunrise, Warriors at first opening, side-gate to the Forbidden City.
No jade factory. No silk showroom. Written into your booking.
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.
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Suzhou and Hangzhou (+3 days)
From Shanghai by bullet train, two of the quietest gardens in eastern China.
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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.