Discover China: Beijing to Shanghai

The journey

Overview

Unforgettable moments

Highlights

Your itinerary

Day by day

1. Day1
   Arrive Beijing. Afternoon hutong walk+

   Your tour begins in the Chinese capital, Beijing.

   You should be aware that this is a busy itinerary with some full days. Sightseeing can involve a good amount of walking on uneven surfaces, and the use of public transport involves carrying luggage on and off trains.

   We leave the hotel at 2pm and step into the living heart of old Beijing on a guided walk through the hutongs. Narrow lanes wind past courtyard homes where neighbours sit chatting on doorsteps, bicycles weave between pedestrians and the smell of frying dumplings and sesame drifts from open doorways. It’s noisy, warm and wonderfully real. Our evening begins with dinner at a local restaurant, a relaxed first taste of Beijing’s regional cooking.

   StaySunworld Dynasty Hotel Beijing Wangfujing (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast, Dinner
2. Day2
   Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square and the Summer Palace+

   This morning we head to the heart of Beijing, within the walls of the Forbidden City. We step through its great gates into courtyards and palaces that once played host to imperial ceremony, absorbing the rich reds, carved stonework and layered symbolism of this 15th-century complex. Beyond its rooftops, modern Beijing hums, but here time feels very still.

   From here, we walk into the openness of Tian'anmen Square, where scale alone tells a story. At its northern edge stands the Gate of Heavenly Peace, its name a quiet contrast to the many chapters of recent history that have unfolded across these flagstones.

   Our day continues at the Summer Palace, a retreat built by Qing emperors to escape the city heat. We stroll through designed gardens, cross arched bridges and admire pavilions backed by wooded hills. A gentle cruise on Kunming Lake rounds off the afternoon. Reflections rippling across the water, willow branches swaying, the city feeling far away.

   StaySunworld Dynasty Hotel Beijing Wangfujing (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast, Lunch
3. Day3
   Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall and Peking duck dinner+

   We start at Temple of Heaven Park, a place shaped by symmetry, open skies and centuries of ritual. Here, we enjoy a private tai chi class, guided through slow, flowing movements beneath ancient cypress trees. It’s a calm, grounding way to begin the day. Afterwards, we follow the curve of the Echo Wall and walk the broad Red Stairway Bridge towards the park’s centrepiece, the Temple of Heaven itself, rising from its marble terraces.

   From here, we travel north to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Set among rolling, forested hills, we ascend by cable car, watching the wall reveal itself as it winds across the ridgelines. Three watchtowers stand guard as the structure rises and dips into the distance. There’s time to walk the ramparts at your own pace, feel the stone underfoot and take in the sheer scale of what’s in front of you.

   This evening, we sit down to a traditional Peking duck dinner. We'll tuck into thin slices of crisp, lacquered skin, tender meat, delicate pancakes, spring onion, cucumber and a slick of sweet bean sauce. It’s rich, savoury and the perfect way to end three days in Beijing.

   StaySunworld Dynasty Hotel Beijing Wangfujing (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4. Day4
   High-speed train to Xi’an and walk the city walls+

   We travel south by high-speed train to Xi’an, a comfortable journey of around four and a half hours. The scenery shifts steadily as we cross landscapes once followed slowly by Silk Road caravans.

   Xi’an is regarded as the oldest of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals. Once the heart of the Tang dynasty and the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, the city was far larger in its imperial prime. Today, it buzzes with energy, its modern commerce unfolding within the Ming-dynasty walls that still define the historic core. This afternoon, we climb onto those broad ramparts and walk above the old city. Below us, tiled rooftops, busy streets, the sound of traffic and bicycle bells. Beyond the defences, the high-rises of new Xi’an, pressing up against the old.

   StayJianguo Hotel (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast
5. Day5
   Terracotta Warriors, the Great Mosque and Tang Dynasty show+

   We begin with one of China’s most extraordinary sights – the Terracotta Warriors. Standing face to face with these life-size figures, the scale is remarkable. An estimated 8,000 soldiers, each with individual features and expressions, silently guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Construction began in 246 BC, and every figure faces east, eternally watching the direction from which his enemies once came. The atmosphere is hushed, almost reverential.

   From imperial might, we shift to quiet contemplation at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang-dynasty Buddhist tower set within peaceful gardens. Then on to Xi’an’s Great Mosque, where shaded courtyards, elegant pavilions and pagoda-style roofs create a distinctive blend of Chinese and Islamic design.

   In the lanes of Muslim Street, we try our hand at calligraphy, learning the flowing brushstrokes of this ancient art while surrounded by the sounds and aromas of local life. This evening, we step back in time with a Tang Dynasty dinner and show. The meal draws on recipes from the Tang court.  We might taste delicate dumplings, braised meats, pickled vegetables and sweet rice dishes, served alongside live performances of silk-robed dancers, traditional instruments and operatic vocals. It’s colourful, generous and thoroughly entertaining.

   StayJianguo Hotel (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6. Day6
   Train to Chengdu. Afternoon at leisure+

   We travel by high-speed train to Chengdu, a journey of around four and a half hours through China’s southwest. Chengdu has a reputation for being the place where ambition slows down and contentment takes over. There’s a local saying: ‘the young shouldn’t come, and the old shouldn’t leave.’ Teahouses spill onto pavements, mahjong tiles clatter in the parks and life moves at a pace that feels deliberately, happily slow.

   The rest of the day is yours. Wander the nearby streets, find a teahouse, or settle in after the journey.

   StayXizang Hotel Chengdu (or similar 5-star)MealsBreakfast
7. Day7
   Giant pandas and Sichuan opera+

   We spend the morning at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, set within bamboo groves and forested slopes on the outskirts of the city. Founded in 1987 with just six rescued pandas, the centre has grown into a world-leading conservation project, now home to more than 200 giant pandas, without taking a single animal from the wild. We wander the leafy pathways as pandas laze in the branches, tumble over each other and sit chewing bamboo with an air of total indifference to their audience.

   Later, we explore Jinli Street, a narrow pedestrian lane alive with colour and movement. Traditional façades line the way, with artisan workshops, teahouses and street-food stalls selling sweet rice cakes and ma la BBQ skewers that leave a tingle of Sichuan pepper on the tongue. There’s time to browse or simply eat your way along.

   This evening, we enjoy a performance of traditional Sichuan opera.

   StayXizang Hotel Chengdu (or similar 5-star)MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8. Day8
   Train to Guilin. Elephant Trunk Hill+

   We travel by high-speed train to Guilin, a journey of around six hours that carries us south into a landscape the Chinese have long called ‘the best under heaven.’ As the scenery changes outside our windows, soft-edged hills begin to rise, hinting at the karst formations that have drawn poets, painters and travellers for centuries.

   Our first stop is Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin’s most recognised landmark. Set beside the Li River, this limestone formation is shaped like a giant elephant lowering its trunk to drink. We explore the surrounding parkland, where water, rock and greenery blend together, and hear the legends woven into this much-loved site.

   From the riverbanks, the gentle rhythm of Guilin reveals itself: boats drifting past, karst peaks rising in the distance, reflections dancing on still water. It’s the kind of place where you'll find yourself reaching for your camera every few minutes.

   StayGuilin Bravo Hotel (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast
9. Day9
   At leisure, or optional Longji Rice Terraces excursion+

   Today is free in Guilin. Reed Flute Cave is worth the short taxi ride for its vast, colour-lit limestone chambers. A stroll around Rong Lake and Shan Lake takes you past the Sun and Moon Pagodas, and Zhengyang Walking Street is the place to try Guilin rice noodles – tasty and served with pickled beans and chilli oil.

   Or you can join the optional excursion to the Longji Rice Terraces (pre-bookable). The drive takes you into the surrounding mountains to Huangluo Yao Village, a traditional Red Yao settlement known for the community’s distinctive customs. You’ll watch a vibrant cultural performance before continuing to Ping’an Village, home to the Zhuang people and surrounded by terraced fields that cascade down the mountainsides in flowing patterns of green. Lunch is included before you return to the hotel.

   StayGuilin Bravo Hotel (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast
10. Day10
    Li River cruise to Yangshuo+

    We spend a gentle half day on the Li River, one of China’s most celebrated waterways. As our boat drifts downstream, sculpted karst hills rise on either side, their reflections shimmering on the water like ink paintings come to life. Bamboo groves, mist-softened peaks and dark cave openings create a sequence of scenes from a fairytale. This is the stretch of river once known for its cormorant fishermen, who worked in harmony with their birds from narrow bamboo rafts.

    A simple lunch is served on board while the scenery does the talking. We let the rhythm of the river set the pace, watching daily life unfold along the banks – farmers in wide-brimmed hats, water buffalo standing knee-deep, children waving from the shore.

    Our cruise ends in Yangshuo, a lively town set in the thick of those legendary karst landscapes. Shops and market stalls line the riverbank, and two narrow streets follow a creek through the centre of town.

    StayGreen Lotus Hotel (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast, Lunch
11. Day11
    Train to Chongqing. Ciqikou Old Town+

    We travel by high-speed train to Chongqing, a journey of around four hours. Set where great rivers meet, Chongqing rises steeply from the water, its hills layered with towers, bridges and skylines that glow after dark. It’s loud, vertical and full of character.

    We start with a stroll through Ciqikou Old Town, where narrow lanes wind past well-preserved historic buildings, teahouses and small shops. The air fills with conversation and the aromas of local snacks: crispy fried dough, spiced tofu and, everywhere, a hint of Sichuan chilli.

    Later, we head to the Liziba Station viewpoint for one of the city’s most talked-about sights - the monorail gliding directly through a residential building, disappearing and reappearing as if by magic. Perfectly ordinary for locals. Not something you'll forget in a hurry.

    StayHilton Chongqing (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast, Dinner
12. Day12
    Explore Chongqing. Board the Yangtze cruise+

    A full day in this city built on steep hills, rivers and sheer ingenuity. We explore the Jiefangbei district, the commercial heart, where modern towers and bright signage create a constant buzz. From here, we visit Hongyadong, a complex built into the cliffside along the river. Tiered wooden façades, lantern-lit walkways and river views below make it feel both traditional and theatrical, especially after dark.

    At Kuixinglou, we experience Chongqing’s reputation for mind-bending ‘8D’ architecture first-hand. Crossing a bridge at what appears to be street level, we look down to find the road below sits more than 20 floors beneath us. It takes a moment to process.

    We slow the pace with a walk along the Mountain City Footpath, a scenic route tracing the hillside contours with views of everyday life unfolding below. We also visit Shibati, a restored old quarter where historic lanes and stairways tell Chongqing’s older stories.

    In the evening, we board our vessel for a three-night cruise along the Yangtze.

    StayMV Century Glory (or similar cruise)MealsBreakfast, Dinner
13. Day13
    Fengdu Ghost City or Xiaoguanshan Ancient Folk Culture Town+

    This morning, we choose between two shore excursions. Fengdu Ghost City sits on a dramatic hillside, its temples, statues and pathways steeped in legend. The site blends Confucian, Taoist and Buddhist traditions with Chinese folklore exploring morality, the afterlife and the human spirit. It’s part spiritual, part theatrical, and unlike anything else on the trip.

    Alternatively, we may visit Xiaoguanshan Ancient Folk Culture Town, a riverside settlement with well-preserved traditional architecture and a gentler pace, where the river flows calmly alongside the streets. After dark, we watch the War Fire of the Three Kingdoms show, a vivid outdoor performance that brings history to life through dramatic lighting, music and storytelling on a grand scale.

    StayMV Century Glory (or similar cruise)MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
14. Day14
    Sail the Three Gorges. Shennv Stream excursion+

    We sail through some of the most dramatic scenery on the Yangtze. First comes the Qutang Gorge, just eight kilometres long but the most imposing of the Three Gorges. Sheer cliffs rise up to 1,200 metres as the river narrows to only a few tens of metres wide. Towering rock faces close in around us, and the sense of scale is incredible.

    Beyond Qutang, the landscape softens into Wu Gorge, stretching for 45 kilometres. The river winds between mist-draped slopes and the Twelve Peaks of Wushan, their silhouettes rising above the water. The mood is quieter here, almost dreamlike.

    We leave the ship to explore the Shennv (Goddess) Stream by smaller boat, drifting into a tranquil tributary surrounded by steep, green cliffs. It’s a more intimate side of the gorges – peaceful, atmospheric and completely absorbing.

    This evening, we pack our main luggage for collection, keeping only an overnight bag for the final night on board.

    StayMV Century Glory (or similar cruise)MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
15. Day15
    Three Gorges Dam. Fly to Shanghai+

    We disembark at Maoping, just upstream of the reservoir, and visit the Three Gorges Dam. Standing before this enormous feat of engineering gives a real sense of its scale and its impact on the river and the surrounding region. For those who wish, there’s the option to see the ship lift at additional cost, for a closer look at how vessels are raised and lowered across the dam’s structure.

    From here, we continue to Yichang and on to Jingzhou before flying to Shanghai. As we arrive, the Yangtze River delta gives way to colonial façades lining the Bund, tree-lined boulevards and the skyline of Pudong rising across the river, its towers glowing with energy and ambition.

    StayJinjiang Hotel (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast, Lunch
16. Day16
    Shanghai highlights and farewell dinner+

    We begin at Yu Yuan Garden, where ornate pagodas, rockeries and tranquil ponds create a graceful escape from the surrounding city. Every turn reveals carved stone, curved bridges and bursts of greenery, all arranged with a precision that feels effortless.

    Nearby, we step into the Old City, often considered the most traditionally Chinese quarter of Shanghai. Narrow streets bustle with daily life, small shops and market stalls, a vivid contrast to the modern skyline just beyond.

    At the Jade Buddha Temple, founded in 1882 and rebuilt on its current site in the 1920s, two white jade Buddha statues brought from Burma take centre stage – the serene Sitting Buddha and the gently reclining Recumbent Buddha. The scent of incense and the soft murmur of prayer fill the halls.

    We then walk through the French Concession, where tree-lined avenues, historic villas and café culture reflect a distinctly European chapter of the city’s past. This evening, we gather for a farewell dinner, sharing stories and flavours from 17 days on the road.

    StayJinjiang Hotel (or similar 4-star)MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
17. Day17
    At leisure or optional Suzhou excursion. Tour ends+

    Your final day is free to explore Shanghai at your own pace. A morning walk along the Bund is hard to beat, with Pudong's skyline rising across the water. Nanjing Road offers shopping and people-watching, while the narrow streets of Tianzifang are full of galleries, cafés and small design studios

    Or you can join the optional full-day excursion to Suzhou by road (pre-bookable). Often called a city of water and gardens, Suzhou reveals itself gently. Streams wind through neighbourhoods, the ancient Grand Canal threads quietly through the centre, and streets run alongside waterways in an unhurried rhythm. The classical Chinese water gardens are the main draw – rockeries, pavilions, arched bridges and carefully placed trees, all refined over centuries into scenes of balance and calm. Lunch is included during the day.

    MealsBreakfast

Accommodation

Where you stay

Hotels are as planned; occasionally similar alternatives are used.

Peace of mind

What's included

• ✦3-night cruise
• ✦14 nights' hotel accommodation
• ✦Meals Included: breakfast daily, 10 lunches and 8 dinners
• ✦Itinerary as described
• ✦Services of guides and local representative
• ✦Flights from the UK can be added — ask your adviser