Signature Journey
China in Reverse
11 Days · Shanghai to Beijing
Shanghai · Zhangjiajie · Xi'an · Beijing
Start with modern China. Travel backwards through landscapes and history.
The Idea
China, backwards.
Start with the skyline. End with the Great Wall.
Most first-time China itineraries begin with Beijing and finish beneath the Shanghai skyline. This journey does the opposite.
Begin in modern Shanghai.
Travel west into the extraordinary landscapes of Zhangjiajie.
Continue into the ancient capital of Xi'an.
Finish in Beijing with the Forbidden City, Great Wall and Temple of Heaven.
As the journey continues, China's history gets deeper.
Duration
11 Days / 10 Nights
Start / Finish
Shanghai → Beijing
Destinations
Shanghai · Zhangjiajie · Xi'an · Beijing
Transport
2 Domestic Flights · 1 High-Speed Rail Journey · Private Transfers
Travel Style
Private Journey · Nature · Culture · Adventure
Meals
Breakfast included · Lunch & dinner left flexible
Travel Pace
Active
Difficulty
Moderate
Recommended Season
December–March
The Journey in Four Chapters
One journey,
four different Chinas.
Modern China
Shanghai
- The Bund
- Shanghai Tower
- Yu Garden
- Robotaxi
- Robotics
Begin with the China being built today.
Wild China
Zhangjiajie
- Avatar Mountains
- Bailong Elevator
- Tianzi Mountain
- Glass Bridge
- Tianmen Mountain
Step out of the city and into another world.
Ancient China
Xi'an
- Terracotta Army
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Hanfu
- City Wall
- Muslim Quarter
Travel deeper into China's ancient past.
Imperial China
Beijing
- Forbidden City
- Jingshan
- Mutianyu Great Wall
- Temple of Heaven
- Hutongs
Finish at the centre of imperial China.
Route Overview
Shanghai to Beijing
A flight inland to Zhangjiajie, a second flight north to Xi'an, then high-speed rail to Beijing.
Shanghai
Flight
Approx. 2.5 hours
Zhangjiajie
Flight
Approx. 2 hours
Xi'an
High-Speed Rail
Approx. 4.5–5.5 hours
Beijing
Highlights
Eight reasons to travel this route
01
Shanghai — Two Ways
Choose between Classic Shanghai or a futuristic route focused on robotics, Robotaxi technology and the modern city.
02
The Floating Mountains
Explore Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain among Zhangjiajie's extraordinary sandstone pillars.
03
Bailong Elevator
Ride a glass elevator approximately 326 metres up the side of a cliff.
04
Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
Walk across the 430-metre-long glass bridge suspended around 300 metres above the canyon.
05
Tianmen Mountain
Take the 7,455-metre mountain cableway and walk spectacular cliffside paths and glass walkways.
06
Terracotta Army
Visit the famous archaeological site and make your own miniature terracotta figure.
07
Ancient Xi'an
Explore the City Wall, Muslim Quarter and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
08
The Beijing Finale
Finish with the Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall and Temple of Heaven.
Day by Day
Eleven days, four chapters
Day 1Arrival in Shanghai+
Arrive in Shanghai and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Suggested: walk along the Bund in the evening.
Overnight · Shanghai
Day 2Shanghai — Choose Your City+
Choose between two completely different days. Route A, Classic Shanghai — the Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road, the Bund and the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower. Or Route B, The City Being Built Now — hands-on robotics, robot dogs, a Robotaxi experience, the White Magnolia Plaza observation deck, Yu Garden and the Bund after dark.
Optional — At Additional Cost
- Xiaolongbao masterclass
- Traditional Chinese medicine experience
- Rooftop cocktails
- Huangpu River cruise
Overnight · Shanghai
Day 3Shanghai → Zhangjiajie+
Visit the Jade Buddha Temple, Xintiandi and Tianzifang. Fly to Zhangjiajie — approximately 2.5 hours — and transfer to Wulingyuan near the entrance to the national forest park.
Overnight · Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
Day 4The Floating Mountains+
Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Ride the Bailong Elevator and continue to Yuanjiajie, with the Southern Sky Column, the Soul-Bewitching Terrace and the Back Garden. Continue to Tianzi Mountain and finish at the Ten-Mile Gallery.
Overnight · Zhangjiajie
Day 5Glass Bridge & Baofeng Lake+
Visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and walk across the glass bridge — 430 metres long and around 300 metres above the canyon. In the afternoon, take a boat across Baofeng Lake, surrounded by cliffs.
Overnight · Zhangjiajie
Day 6Tianmen Mountain → Xi'an+
Take the Tianmen Mountain cableway — 7,455 metres — and walk along the cliffside paths and glass sections. Continue to Tianmen Cave, known as Heaven's Gate, with the winding Tongtian Avenue below. Fly to Xi'an in the evening.
Overnight · Xi'an
Day 7Terracotta Army & Hanfu+
Visit the Terracotta Army and take part in a hands-on workshop to create your own miniature figure. Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the late afternoon, enjoy a hanfu fitting.
Overnight · Xi'an
Day 8Xi'an → Beijing+
Visit the Xi'an City Wall, with the option to cycle along part of it. Continue to the Muslim Quarter, where lunch is kept flexible so you can sample several local foods. Take the high-speed train to Beijing — approximately 4.5–5.5 hours.
Optional — At Additional Cost
- Cycle along the City Wall
Overnight · Beijing
Day 9Forbidden City & Old Beijing+
Begin at Tiananmen Square, enter the Forbidden City and walk along its historic central axis. Climb Jingshan Park for panoramic views and finish in Beijing's traditional hutong neighbourhoods.
Overnight · Beijing
Day 10Mutianyu Great Wall+
Travel to Mutianyu. Take the shuttle and cable car to the ridge and walk from watchtower 14 to watchtower 20. Return to Beijing and see the Bird's Nest and Water Cube at the Olympic Green.
Overnight · Beijing
Day 11Temple of Heaven & Departure+
Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning and experience local life in the surrounding park. Transfer to the airport or railway station for departure.
Overnight · —
Zhangjiajie
Three Days Above the Clouds
Zhangjiajie is the adventure centrepiece of this journey.
Explore a landscape of thousands of sandstone pillars, cliffside paths, mountain cableways and deep valleys.
- Bailong Elevator
- Yuanjiajie
- Southern Sky Column
- Tianzi Mountain
- Ten-Mile Gallery
- Glass Bridge
- Baofeng Lake
- Tianmen Mountain
- Heaven's Gate
326 m
Bailong Elevator
430 m
Glass Bridge
300 m
Above the canyon
7,455 m
Tianmen Cableway
Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon
430 metres of glass, 300 metres of air.
Walk across the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon glass bridge, suspended high above the valley floor.
In the afternoon, the pace slows with a boat across Baofeng Lake, ringed by cliffs.
Tianmen Mountain
Heaven's Gate.
Ride the 7,455-metre cableway from the edge of the city to the mountain top.
Walk the cliffside paths and glass sections, then continue to Tianmen Cave with the winding Tongtian Avenue below.
Shanghai — Two Ways
You choose.
Route A
Classic Shanghai
Explore Shanghai through Chinese art, historic architecture, traditional gardens and its iconic skyline.
Includes
- Shanghai Museum
- Yu Garden
- Nanjing Road
- The Bund
- Shanghai Tower
Route B
Future Shanghai
Experience the side of Shanghai focused on technology, innovation and modern Chinese city life.
Includes
- Robot dogs
- Robotaxi
- White Magnolia Plaza
- Yu Garden
- The Bund after dark
Meal Philosophy
We leave room for good food.
Breakfast is included, while lunch and dinner are deliberately left flexible.
Instead of sending travellers to fixed group-tour restaurants, the guide can recommend places depending on what you actually want to eat that day.
This is especially useful in Xi'an, where the Muslim Quarter is best experienced by trying several different foods rather than sitting down for one fixed meal.
Private Journey
Private throughout.
This itinerary is designed as a private journey.
That means more flexibility with timing, sightseeing pace, food choices and daily arrangements.
Exact vehicle and guide arrangements will be confirmed with the final quotation.
Important Information
A note about heights
Several Zhangjiajie experiences involve significant exposure to heights:
- Glass walkways
- Cliffside paths
- Cableways
- Glass bridge
The walking itself is generally manageable, but this itinerary may not be suitable for travellers with a strong fear of heights.
Weather conditions can affect mountain attractions, bridges and cableways. Local safety closures always take priority.
Traveller Fit
Is this journey for you?
Good For
- First-time visitors to China
- Couples
- Friends
- Families
- Private travellers
- Nature lovers
- Photography lovers
- Travellers who want cities and landscapes
- People comfortable with an active itinerary
Less Suited To
- Travellers with a severe fear of heights
- People wanting a very slow trip
- Travellers looking mainly for beach or resort stays
- People wanting intense multi-day hiking
Activity Level
Moderate
This is not a hiking tour. However, expect regular sightseeing walking, stairs and mountain attractions.
- Shanghai sightseeing
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
- Tianmen Mountain
- Xi'an City Wall
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall
- Temple of Heaven
When To Go
A winter journey
December–March
Winter can bring clear visibility, smaller crowds and dramatic mountain conditions in Zhangjiajie.
Snow, rime ice and cloud seas can create spectacular scenery.
However, winter weather can occasionally affect cableways, glass bridges and mountain roads. The itinerary can be adapted for other seasons.
Accommodation
Well-located accommodation is planned in Shanghai, Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan, Xi'an and Beijing.
Exact hotel properties and categories will be confirmed with the final quotation.
Meals
- Breakfast — included from Day 2 onwards according to the itinerary
- Lunch — not included
- Dinner — not included
Exact inclusions will be confirmed before booking.
Price
On Request
Pricing depends on travel dates, number of travellers, accommodation preferences and final arrangements.
Tell me your travel dates, number of travellers and preferred travel style, and I'll help you create the right version of this journey.
Customisation
Make it yours.
This is a reference itinerary and can be adapted around your travel dates, pace and interests.
Want longer in Shanghai? Want another day in Zhangjiajie? Want more food experiences in Xi'an? Want to add Chengdu after Beijing?
Tell me what kind of China journey you want and we can reshape the route.
- Shanghai — Modern China
- Zhangjiajie — Wild China
- Xi'an — Ancient China
- Beijing — Imperial China
Start with the skyline.
End with the Great Wall.