The Grand Tour:Beijing to Shanghai
Fifteen days through five anchors. The grand tour, for travellers who want the country in one trip and the time to walk it properly.
Fifteen days through the country at the pace it asks for. Beijing for the imperial spine, Xi'an for the dynasty before that, three nights on the Yangtze, Suzhou for the gardens, Shanghai to close. Five anchors, three regions, private drivers and local guides arranged for the land legs and a five-star cabin on the river. Built for second-China travellers and first-China travellers with time.
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.
Fifteen days,
five anchors,
every era.
- Days 1-4
The imperial spine
Four nights in central Beijing. Side-gate entry to the Forbidden City, sunrise on the Wall at Mutianyu, a hutong courtyard lunch, Temple of Heaven at dusk. The standard Beijing four days, run the way the icons earn.
This stop- Forbidden City via the side gate
- The Great Wall at Mutianyu before the buses
- Hutong courtyard lunch
- Temple of Heaven at dusk
- Days 5-7
The dynasty before
High-speed rail south. Three nights inside the walled city. Warriors at first opening, the city wall by bicycle at sunrise, Huaqing Palace, the Muslim Quarter food walk at dusk. The transfer into Xi'an is briefed before you arrive.
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, aboard at dusk. Three nights through the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling Gorges. Premium-deck cabin with a balcony, side-boat up the Goddess Stream, an afternoon at the Three Gorges Dam.
This stop- Chongqing hot-pot dinner before boarding
- Premium-deck cabin with balcony
- Goddess Stream side-boat through the karst
- Three Gorges Dam observation deck
- Days 12-13
Gardens and canals
Disembark at Yichang, fly to Shanghai, drive to Suzhou. Two nights at a canal-edge boutique. The Humble Administrator's Garden at first opening, an afternoon walking the Pingjiang Road canal town, a Kunqu opera teahouse for the closing evening.
This stop- Humble Administrator's Garden at first opening
- Pingjiang Road canal town on foot
- Lingering Garden walkthrough with a local guide
- Kunqu opera teahouse evening
- Days 14-15
The river city, present tense
Bullet train into Shanghai. Two nights on or behind the Bund. The colonial waterfront in the morning, the French Concession in the afternoon, Pudong skyline from a 50th-floor terrace to close. We finish 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
- Pudong skyline from a 50th-floor terrace
Fifteen days,
the country at the pace
it asks for.
Four nights in Beijing, not three. The Wall at Mutianyu before the buses and the Forbidden City via the side gate, with the room to do each one well.
Premium-deck cabin on the Yangtze, not the lower-deck cabin the package operators book.
Suzhou is run as a two-night stay, not a Shanghai day-trip. The gardens at first opening, not at lunchtime.
No surprise stops across all five anchors. No jade factory, no silk showroom, no tea-ceremony price card.
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.
Chengdu pandas (+3 days)
Fly Xi'an to Chengdu for the panda base before the Yangtze, then rejoin at Chongqing.
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Guilin and the Li River (+4 days)
From Shanghai south to Guilin for the karst cruise and Yangshuo countryside.
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Hangzhou (+2 days)
From Suzhou south by bullet train, West Lake and the tea villages of Meijiawu.
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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.