Classic China
Four Cities
10 Days · Beijing to Shanghai
Beijing · Xi'an · Guilin · Shanghai
China's imperial past, ancient capitals, iconic landscapes and modern skyline — in one journey.
The Idea
The classic China journey — with room to breathe.
Imperial cities. Ancient history. Karst landscapes. Modern China.
This is one of the most complete ways to experience China in around ten days.
Beijing introduces imperial China through the Forbidden City and Great Wall.
Xi'an takes you deeper into the country's ancient history.
Guilin and Yangshuo replace city streets with rivers, rice fields and limestone mountains.
Shanghai finishes the journey in the China of today.
Unlike rushed itineraries that move hotels every night, this route spends two or three nights in each major destination.
The result is a classic China itinerary that still feels like a journey rather than a checklist.
Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Start / Finish
Beijing → Shanghai
Destinations
Beijing · Xi'an · Guilin · Yangshuo · Shanghai
Transport
High-Speed Rail · 2 Domestic Flights · Li River Cruise · Private Transfers
Travel Style
Classic China · Culture · History · Nature · Scenery
Travel Pace
Well-Paced / Active
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
Recommended Season
April–June
Why This Journey
Seven reasons to travel this route
01
Imperial Beijing
Walk through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City before climbing Jingshan for the panoramic view over the palace.
02
Mutianyu Great Wall
Take the shuttle and cable car to the ridge and walk between watchtowers 14 and 20.
03
Ancient Xi'an
Visit the Terracotta Army and experience the historical depth of one of China's great ancient capitals.
04
Make Your Own Terracotta Warrior
Take part in a hands-on workshop and create a miniature figure to take home.
05
Tang Dynasty After Dark
Experience the Dream of Chang'an welcome ceremony, wear hanfu and explore the Great Tang All Day Mall.
06
Cruise the Li River
Travel 84 kilometres through one of China's most iconic landscapes from Guilin towards Yangshuo.
07
Choose Your Shanghai
Finish with either classic Shanghai or a futuristic route focused on robotics, Robotaxi technology and modern city life.
The Four Sides of China
One journey,
four completely different countries.
Imperial China
Beijing
- Forbidden City
- Great Wall
- Summer Palace
- Hutongs
- Peking Opera
China at its most monumental.
Ancient China
Xi'an
- Terracotta Army
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Hanfu
- Tang Dynasty heritage
More than two thousand years beneath your feet.
Landscape China
Guilin & Yangshuo
- Li River
- Karst mountains
- Rice fields
- Countryside cycling
- Yangshuo
The China that looks like a traditional landscape painting.
Modern China
Shanghai
- The Bund
- Shanghai Tower
- Yu Garden
- Robotics
- Robotaxi
The China being built right now.
Route Overview
Beijing to Shanghai
High-speed rail west to Xi'an, a flight south to Guilin, the Li River down to Yangshuo, then east to Shanghai.
Beijing
High-Speed Rail
4.5–5.5 hours
Xi'an
Flight
Approx. 2 hours
Guilin
Li River Cruise
84 km · Approx. 4.5 hours
Yangshuo
Return / Transfer
Back towards Guilin
Guilin
Flight
Approx. 2.5 hours
Shanghai
Day by Day
Ten days, four regions
Day 1Arrival in Beijing+
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is free to rest. In the evening, enjoy dinner in a courtyard setting accompanied by a Peking Opera performance.
Overnight · Beijing
Day 2Forbidden City & Old Beijing+
Begin at Tiananmen Square. Enter the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate and walk along the historic central axis. Afterwards, climb Jingshan Park for one of the best panoramic views in Beijing. Finish by exploring the traditional hutong neighbourhoods by rickshaw.
Optional — At Additional Cost
- Peking duck dinner — at additional cost
Overnight · Beijing
Day 3Mutianyu Great Wall+
Travel outside Beijing to Mutianyu. Take the shuttle bus and cable car to the ridge, then walk along the Great Wall 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 4Summer Palace → Xi'an+
Visit the Summer Palace in the morning. In the afternoon, take the high-speed train to Xi'an — approximately 4.5–5.5 hours. In the evening, experience the Dream of Chang'an welcome ceremony at the Xi'an City Wall.
Overnight · Xi'an
Day 5Terracotta Army & Tang Dynasty Xi'an+
Visit the Terracotta Army, then take part in a hands-on workshop and create your own miniature terracotta figure. Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the late afternoon, enjoy a hanfu fitting, and spend the evening at the Great Tang All Day Mall surrounded by lanterns, performances and Tang-inspired architecture.
Overnight · Xi'an
Day 6Xi'an → Guilin+
Begin with the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and visit the Xi'an Museum. Please note: the museum is closed on Tuesdays — if required, the sightseeing order can be adjusted. Fly south to Guilin, approximately 2 hours. The rest of the evening is free. Suggested experience: walk beside the Li River and try Guilin rice noodles.
Overnight · Guilin
Day 7Li River Cruise → Yangshuo+
Board the Li River cruise from Guilin towards Yangshuo — approximately 84 kilometres and around 4.5 hours through a landscape of dramatic limestone peaks, villages and river scenery. Pass the famous Huangbu Shoal landscape associated with the image on the back of the Chinese 20-yuan banknote. Lunch is served aboard the cruise. After arriving in Yangshuo, explore the countryside by bicycle or electric scooter, riding through flat rural lanes surrounded by rice fields, orchards, villages and karst mountains. In the evening, explore West Street.
Overnight · Yangshuo
Day 8Guilin → Shanghai+
Return towards Guilin. Visit Elephant Trunk Hill and continue to Reed Flute Cave. Fly to Shanghai in the afternoon — approximately 2.5 hours — and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight · Shanghai
Day 9Shanghai — Choose Your City+
Choose between two completely different days. Route A, Classic Shanghai — the Shanghai Museum, the 118th floor of Shanghai Tower, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road and the Bund. Or Route B, The City Being Built Now — hands-on robotics, robot dogs, a Robotaxi ride, the White Magnolia Plaza observation deck, Yu Garden and the Bund after dark.
Overnight · Shanghai
Day 10Departure from Shanghai+
The morning is free until departure. Depending on your flight time: the Former French Concession, the West Bund galleries, Shanghai coffee culture or shopping. Transfer to Shanghai Airport for your onward flight.
Overnight · —
Guilin & Yangshuo
The landscape from a Chinese painting.
After Beijing and Xi'an, the journey changes completely.
Guilin is surrounded by thousands of limestone karst peaks rising directly from the river valley.
The centrepiece is the Li River journey to Yangshuo — approximately 84 kilometres and four and a half hours through one of China's most famous landscapes.
84 km
Li River journey
4.5 hours
On the water
¥20
The landscape on the banknote
After the cruise, leave the boat behind and explore Yangshuo's countryside by bicycle or electric scooter.
Yangshuo Countryside
Get off the sightseeing bus.
Yangshuo is best experienced slowly.
Travel through flat countryside lanes between karst mountains, rice fields, pomelo orchards, villages and the Yulong River.
Travellers can choose between a bicycle and an electric scooter.
No mountain climbing required — the countryside itself is mostly flat.
Xi'an
History you can actually participate in.
Xi'an combines major historical landmarks with immersive experiences.
See the Terracotta Army, make your own miniature warrior, arrive at the City Wall through the Dream of Chang'an ceremony and wear hanfu for an evening among the lanterns of the Tang-inspired night city.
- Terracotta Army
- Terracotta Workshop
- Dream of Chang'an
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Hanfu
- Great Tang All Day Mall
Shanghai — Two Ways
You choose.
Route A
Classic Shanghai
Explore Shanghai through Chinese art, historic architecture, traditional gardens and its iconic skyline.
Best For
History · Architecture · Museums · Traditional culture
Includes
- Shanghai Museum
- Shanghai Tower
- Yu Garden
- Nanjing Road
- The Bund
Route B
Future Shanghai
Experience another side of Shanghai focused on technology, innovation and modern Chinese city life.
Best For
Technology · Innovation · Modern China · Something different
Includes
- Robot dogs
- Robotaxi
- White Magnolia Plaza
- Yu Garden
- The Bund after dark
Pace
No one-night stops.
This itinerary is designed to cover a lot of China without turning the journey into a race.
Each major area has enough time to actually experience it.
Instead of changing hotels every night, the itinerary stays two or three nights in each main destination wherever possible.
4
Destinations
10
Days
0
One-night city stops
Traveller Fit
Is this journey for you?
Good For
- First-time visitors to China
- Couples
- Friends
- Families
- Travellers with around 10 days available
- People interested in both culture and landscapes
- Travellers who want the classic highlights without rushing
- Photography lovers
- People who want a mix of guided sightseeing and experiential activities
Less Suited To
- Travellers wanting a very slow holiday
- People mainly interested in wilderness hiking
- Travellers wanting to stay in only one region
- People looking for a beach or resort trip
Activity Level
Easy to Moderate
- Walking in the Forbidden City
- Jingshan stairs
- Walking on the Great Wall
- Major sightseeing sites
- Li River cruise
- Optional cycling / electric scooter in Yangshuo
This is not a hiking tour. The itinerary can be adjusted depending on the traveller's pace and mobility.
When To Go
Why spring?
April–June
Spring and early summer are particularly suited to the Guilin section.
Higher water levels allow the Li River journey to operate at its best, while the surrounding rice fields and karst landscape are green.
Rain and mist are common — and are part of what creates Guilin's classic atmospheric scenery.
This journey can also be adapted for other seasons. Final seasonal advice should depend on your actual travel dates.
Accommodation
Well-located accommodation is planned throughout the journey in Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai.
Exact hotels and room categories will be confirmed in the final quotation.
Meals
Selected breakfasts and lunches are included according to the final itinerary.
Lunch is included during the Li River cruise.
Dinner is generally left flexible unless specifically stated.
Exact meal inclusions will be confirmed before booking.
Passport Details
Please keep your passport with you during the journey.
Passport details may be required in advance for:
- High-speed rail tickets
- Domestic flights
- Hotels
- Major attraction reservations
Some tickets in China are issued against passport information, so these details may be required at the time of booking.
Price
On Request
Pricing depends on travel dates, group size, accommodation preferences and final arrangements.
Tell me your travel dates, number of travellers and travel style, and I'll help you create the right version of this journey.
Customisation
Make the journey yours.
This is a reference itinerary and can be adapted around your interests, pace and travel dates.
Want more time in Yangshuo? Want to add bamboo rafting? Want another day in Shanghai? Want to continue to Zhangjiajie, Chengdu or Yunnan?
Tell me what kind of China trip you want and we can reshape the journey around you.
- Beijing — Imperial China
- Xi'an — Ancient China
- Guilin — Landscape China
- Shanghai — Modern China
Four places.
Four sides of China.
Ten days that actually have time to enjoy them.