14-Day Grand Tour of China
Shanghai · Guilin · Chengdu · Xi'an · Beijing — two weeks, five regions, one story: from the future skyline to the Great Wall, in the order that builds. Tour code: GT-14.
Suggested itinerary at a glance
| Days 1–3 | Shanghai — the Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, Zhujiajiao water town |
|---|---|
| Days 4–6 | Guilin & Yangshuo — Li River cruise, bamboo raft, cycling, rice-terrace option |
| Days 7–9 | Chengdu — pandas, teahouses, hotpot, Sichuan opera |
| Days 10–11 | Xi'an — Terracotta Warriors, city wall, Muslim Quarter |
| Days 12–14 | Beijing — Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall finale, depart |
Tour highlights
Ending on the Wall
Most tours start in Beijing. This one saves it for last — after two weeks, the Great Wall isn't a photo stop, it's the finale.
A water town, not just a city
Zhujiajiao from Shanghai: canals, stone bridges and snack streets, at day-trip distance.
Two river landscapes
The Li River's karst and Yangshuo's paddies — plus an optional day in the Longji rice terraces.
Pace with slack in it
Three nights in three different bases means unpacking properly and one genuinely free evening per city.
Day-by-day itinerary
This is a sample itinerary, so you can see what each day actually looks like — the scenery, the meals and where you sleep. On a private trip the order and pace are adjusted to your dates; your confirmed day-by-day plan, with named hotels, comes with your quote. Small-group departures follow this route.
- Day 1
Arrive in Shanghai
Airport pickup and hotel check-in. If the flight was kind, a first evening stroll along the Bund as both banks light up — colonial stone on one side, Pudong's towers on the other.
- Day 2
Shanghai old and new
Yu Garden and the old city in the morning — Ming-dynasty rockeries, pavilions and xiaolongbao at the source. After lunch, the French Concession's plane-tree streets on foot, then the Shanghai Tower observation deck before dinner, when the city's scale finally clicks.
- Day 3
Zhujiajiao water town
A full day in Zhujiajiao, about an hour by road: canals, arched stone bridges and snack streets, taken at wandering pace. Back in Shanghai by evening, with the night your own.
- Day 4
Fly to Guilin
Flight south to Guilin, and the landscape turns to karst. Reed Flute Cave's lit-up caverns in the afternoon, then a first evening stroll around the Two Rivers and Four Lakes, when the pagodas reflect in the water.
- Day 5
Li River cruise to Yangshuo
The four-hour cruise down the Li River — cliff after cliff of karst peaks, water buffalo on the banks, and the bend printed on the ¥20 note. Check in at Yangshuo and an evening on lively West Street.
- Day 6
Yangshuo countryside — or the Longji terraces
Bamboo raft on the Yulong River and cycling between peaks and paddies — or swap the day for the Longji rice terraces, where the flooded fields mirror the sky in spring. Your call at booking.
- Day 7
Fly to Chengdu
Flight to Chengdu, Sichuan's laid-back capital. Settle in, then an evening walk along the Jin River, where the bridges and teahouses light up after dark.
- Day 8
Pandas & teahouse Chengdu
Into the panda base at opening, while the bears are awake — wrestling, climbing and demolishing bamboo. Afternoon at People's Park teahouse pace: jasmine tea, mahjong games you'll be invited to watch, not win.
- Day 9
Slow Chengdu & Sichuan opera
A free afternoon built in on purpose — food streets, a cooking class, or very little at all. Hotpot tonight, and Sichuan opera, where the face-changers swap masks faster than you can see how.
- Day 10
High-speed train to Xi'an
Fast train north to Xi'an (about 3–4 hours). Up on the Ming city wall for sunset — the full 14 km loop by bike if your legs agree — then a first graze through the Muslim Quarter.
- Day 11
Terracotta Warriors
The three pits and the bronze chariots, taken at a pace that lets the individual faces land — no two are alike. Free evening afterwards; most people go back to the Muslim Quarter for the noodles.
- Day 12
High-speed train to Beijing
Bullet train to the capital (about 4.5 hours). An easy evening in the hutongs around the Drum Tower — courtyard lanes that still run on bicycle time.
- Day 13
Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven
The Forbidden City's main halls and side courts, with a guide who explains what they were for. Then the Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for harvests — and where Beijingers now fly kites, play cards and practise tai chi.
- Day 14
The Great Wall finale & departure
The trip saves its biggest sight for last: the Great Wall at Mutianyu in the morning, cable car up and the ridge before the crowds. Farewell Peking duck back in the city, then your airport transfer — or the Wall on your last morning if your flight is late.
What's included
✓ Included
- Car, driver and English-speaking guide in every city (your own car on a private trip)
- 13 nights' hotels at your chosen tier
- All intercity trains and flights listed
- Li River cruise, entrance fees for listed sights, meals as quoted
- WhatsApp support throughout the trip
✕ Not included
- International flights
- China visa, if required
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses, optional activities, gratuities
Deposit & cancellation policy
Deposit & payment: a 10% deposit confirms your booking once you approve the itinerary. The balance is due 30 days before departure; bookings made within 30 days of departure require full payment to confirm.
- 30 or more days before departure: full refund, minus costs already incurred.
- 15–29 days before departure: 70% refund.
- 8–14 days before departure: 50% refund.
- 0–7 days before departure, or no-show: no refund.
- Issued flight, train and cruise tickets are refunded per supplier rules.
If we have to cancel your trip, you receive a full refund. Full terms are sent with your booking confirmation — see also the Booking & Refund Policy page.
Hotels & price
From US$2,390 per person
Starting price per person, based on 2 travelers. Final quote depends on dates and hotel level. Includes 4-star hotels, private guide & driver, entrance fees and intercity trains; international flights not included.
Includes first-timer support: visa-free check, payment setup help and WhatsApp support during your trip.
Quoted per trip on a private basis — small-group departures are also available on this route. Fourteen days is where per-day value gets genuinely good — the fixed costs (guides, transfers) spread across more days. Ask with your dates for the itemised figure.
Tour FAQ
Why start in Shanghai?
Flight prices often favour it, jet-lag is gentler in a walkable modern city, and the trip builds from modern China to ancient — ending on the Wall. It runs in reverse just as happily.
Can I add Zhangjiajie or Chongqing?
Yes — Zhangjiajie can be added as a 2–3 day side trip by flight. Chongqing is about 1–1.5 hours from Chengdu by fast train, so it is easy to add. Ask on WhatsApp.
Is two weeks too long for one trip?
For China, it's the length where the country stops being a highlights reel and starts making sense. The free evenings are deliberate.