30-Day Private China Grand Tour: Beijing, Silk Road, Yangtze & Shanghai

Morning: At 8:00 AM, your private guide will meet you at the hotel and escort you to the Forbidden City — the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with over 600 years of history. As you walk through this magnificent palace complex, admire its grand architectural layout and listen to fascinating stories about China’s emperors and royal life, bringing the ancient court culture vividly to life.

Afternoon: Around 2:00 PM, after completing your visit to the Forbidden City, continue to Jingshan Park. Once a royal garden, it is one of the best viewpoints to overlook the entire palace complex. From the hilltop, enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the golden rooftops of the Forbidden City.

Later, travel by private vehicle to Shichahai. As dusk falls and the city lights begin to glow, stroll through the historic heart of Beijing. Wander deep into the traditional hutongs, where gray-brick alleys, courtyard homes, and lakeside scenery reflect the soul of the old capital.

With a gentle evening breeze carrying the aroma of local street food, you may sample classic Beijing snacks such as sizzling zhizi barbecue, rich fried liver, or sweet tanghulu while walking along the lakeside. In the blend of twilight, water reflections, warm lights, and flavors, experience the depth of hutong culture, the everyday life of old Beijing, and the soft, poetic atmosphere unique to the city at night.

Evening: After exploring the hutongs of Shichahai, dinner can be arranged by your guide, who will recommend a suitable restaurant in the area based on your preferences. You may also choose to enjoy the famous Peking Duck at Quanjude, a historic local restaurant located nearby. After the evening experience, your driver and guide will escort you back to the hotel to rest.

Morning: At 8:00 AM, your private guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to the Temple of Heaven, the sacred ceremonial complex where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties once prayed for good harvests and divine favor. As you stroll through its grand halls, open courtyards, and tranquil gardens, learn about ancient imperial rituals, cosmology, and beliefs that shaped traditional Chinese civilization.

Along the pine-lined pathways, you may also see local residents practicing tai chi, dancing, and exercising — a lively glimpse into everyday life in modern Beijing.

Afternoon: Your Beijing journey comes to an end. At around 2:00 PM, your guide will escort you to Beijing West Railway Station, where you will board a high-speed train to Xi’an (approximately 5 hours).

Evening: At around 7:00 PM, arrive in Xi’an, where your local guide will be waiting at Xi’an North Railway Station. You will be transferred by private vehicle to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the evening is at your leisure, giving you time to relax or take a first walk through the streets of this legendary ancient capital.

Morning: At 8:00 AM, your guide will take you to stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter, a colorful maze of food stalls, local shops, and traditional street snacks. Here you can explore regional flavors, browse handmade souvenirs, and discover local halal specialties. At around 10:00 AM, continue to the nearby Gao Family Courtyard to enjoy a traditional shadow puppet performance, an intangible cultural heritage art form.

As light and shadows move across the screen, vivid characters and stories bring centuries-old folk traditions to life.

Afternoon: At 12:00 PM, your driver and guide will escort you to Xi’an North Railway Station, where you will board a high-speed train to Lanzhou (approximately 3 hours). At around 4:00 PM, arrive in Lanzhou. Your local driver and guide will be waiting in the arrival hall and transfer you by private vehicle to your hotel in the city to check in.

Morning: At 8:00 AM, your private guide and driver will transfer you to Lanzhou West Railway Station. Board a high-speed train to Zhangye (approximately 3 hours), enjoying the changing scenery along the way. At around 11:30 AM, arrive at Zhangye West Railway Station, where your local guide and driver will be waiting to welcome you.

Transfer to the city and get ready to begin your Zhangye adventure.

Afternoon: At around 1:00 PM, travel by private vehicle for about one hour to Zhangye Danxia Geological Park. Formed from layers of red sandstone and conglomerate dating back to the early Jurassic period, the Zhangye Danxia is one of China’s most breathtaking natural wonders. Rolling hills and ridges stretch across the landscape like a sea of painted clouds, with red, white, and golden tones blending into dramatic patterns that resemble abstract oil paintings.

You will visit several scenic viewpoints within the park and ride the shuttle bus between platforms, discovering the Danxia formations from different angles. Do not miss the unforgettable Danxia sunset. Viewpoint No.

4 (Qicai Hongxia Platform) is one of the best spots to watch the colors glow at dusk. It is recommended to arrive early to secure a good viewing position.

Evening: Between 7:30 and 8:30 PM, gather after sunset and return by vehicle to Zhangye city, concluding this spectacular natural experience.

Morning: After breakfast at 8:00 AM, your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and take you to visit Jiayuguan Pass, the western end of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall and one of the best-preserved ancient military fortresses in China. Walk along the fortress walls and gates, imagining the strategic role this stronghold once played on the Silk Road frontier.

Afternoon: At around 12:30 PM, depart by private vehicle for Dunhuang. Along the way, enjoy sweeping views of the vast Gobi Desert, where endless landscapes stretch across the horizon. Late

Afternoon: At around 5:00 PM, arrive at the Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake Scenic Area for an unforgettable encounter between desert and oasis. Marvel at the crescent-shaped lake embraced by towering sand dunes, and learn why Mingsha Mountain is named for the “singing” sound made by the shifting sands. A camel ride has been arranged, allowing you to experience the magic of the desert in a truly memorable way.

Evening: After 7:30 PM, transfer to your hotel in Dunhuang for check-in. Dinner is at your leisure, giving you time to explore the night atmosphere of this charming Silk Road town.

Morning: Travel by private vehicle to the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center in time for your confirmed reservation. The digital exhibition and cave visit follow your booked ticket type and the official visiting arrangements.

Known as the “Louvre of the East,” the Mogao Caves are world-famous for their exquisite murals and sculptures. There are 492 grottoes in total, containing approximately 45,000 square meters of wall paintings and over 2,100 painted statues. Visitors are divided into small groups, each led by an official site guide.

Follow the official guided route for your confirmed ticket type. Under the 2026 arrangements, regular tickets include the digital exhibition and eight caves; emergency tickets cover four caves. Ticket availability and the caves visited are subject to official arrangements for your travel date.

Special caves require separate arrangements and additional payment, subject to the site’s current rules and availability. Photography and filming are not permitted inside the caves.

Afternoon: Continue to Mingsha Mountain. It is said that even on calm, windless days, the shifting sands can produce sounds like music. If you slide down the dunes, you may clearly hear these natural echoes.

Evening (Optional): In the evening, you may choose to watch the spectacular Silk Road show “Dunhuang Grand Ceremony.” Using holographic projection, 3D visuals, traditional instruments, and choreographed dance, the performance offers an immersive cultural experience. The performance schedule and ticket availability depend on your travel date. If you would like to attend, please inform your travel consultant or guide in advance.

Morning: At 8:00 AM, your private guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to Jiaohe Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest, oldest, and best-preserved earthen cities in the world. Walking through its ruins, you will gain a vivid sense of life along the ancient Silk Road. At around 9:30 AM, continue to the remarkable Karez Wells, Turpan’s traditional underground irrigation system.

These channels carry water from distant mountains and store it below ground, minimizing evaporation in the desert climate.

Afternoon: Before leaving Turpan, visit the Emin Minaret (Sugong Pagoda), the tallest ancient tower in Xinjiang, famous for its unique architectural design. On the way, stop briefly at the Flaming Mountains, whose deep red cliffs create a dramatic landscape. In summer, temperatures here can reach nearly 50°C, making it one of the hottest places in China.

After the visits, return to your hotel to rest, concluding a day of cultural and natural exploration in Turpan.

Morning: Early this morning, take a flight to Kashgar (approximately 2 hours). At around 9:00 AM, arrive at Kashgar Airport, where your local guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to the city. At 10:30 AM, visit the Abakh Khoja Mausoleum, more than just a tomb — it is a beautifully designed architectural complex with prayer halls, gardens, and archways.

It is one of the best places to appreciate Uyghur aesthetics and Islamic architecture. This site also offers insight into Uyghur burial traditions, as it is the resting place of the Apak Khoja family, a five-generation Islamic lineage. Apak Khoja himself was a respected religious leader who helped spread Islam in the Kashgar region.

At around 11:30 AM, continue to the Id Kah Mosque, the most important Islamic landmark in Kashgar. Considered a sacred place for Muslims, thousands gather here daily for prayer. Historically, it also served as a center for Islamic education, producing many respected scholars and religious leaders.

Afternoon: At around 3:00 PM, explore Kashgar Old City, just a short walk from Id Kah Mosque. Explore its lanes, courtyards and local shops for a closer look at the city’s architecture and everyday life. Take a short break at a century-old teahouse inside the old city, where you can enjoy a cup of local tea and observe daily life.

Locals often gather here to relax, chat, and sometimes play traditional music.

Evening: After 6:00 PM, return to your hotel to check in and rest. Dinner is at your leisure and can be enjoyed in the Old City area or near your hotel.

Morning: At 7:30 AM, travel by private vehicle to the Dujiangyan Panda Base. This early start is the best time to see the pandas, as they are most active in the cool morning hours before they settle down to rest later in the day. As you leave the city behind, the scenery slowly changes into green mountains and bamboo forests, with fresh air and a sense of calm surrounding you.

The panda base is set in a quiet, natural environment far from the urban crowds, making it one of the best places to observe giant pandas up close. In the nursery and activity areas, you will see pandas eating lazily, climbing, playing, and resting peacefully. In this gentle atmosphere, take your time to enjoy these heartwarming moments and feel the calm energy they bring.

Afternoon: At around 12:30 PM, return to Chengdu city and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The bold flavors of Sichuan cuisine — spicy, numbing, fragrant, and rich — unfold layer by layer on your palate. This is not just a meal, but a true taste of Chengdu’s soul.

At around 2:30 PM, continue to People’s Park. Find a bamboo chair, order a cup of traditional tea, and watch everyday life around you — locals dancing, singing, playing chess, and chatting. The atmosphere is lively yet unhurried, as if time moves slower here.

You may simply relax and observe, or even join in and become part of the scene. If you wish, you may also experience a very local way to unwind — a traditional ear-cleaning and massage service. Just let your guide know and it will be arranged for you.

Lie back on a bamboo chair, close your eyes, and allow yourself to fully relax, enjoying one of Chengdu’s most authentic daily rituals.

Morning: Enter Jiuzhaigou National Park around 8:00 AM, before the larger tour groups arrive. At this hour, the air is still, the lakes reflect like mirrors, and the morning light falls across the upper valley. Start at Long Lake, the highest point in the park at about 3,100 meters, where the deep blue water is framed by the Minshan peaks.

Continue with a short downhill walk to Five-Color Pond, where mineral layers and ancient fallen trunks beneath the surface create shifting shades of emerald and turquoise.

Midday: Around noon, reach the Nuorilang Visitor Hub, the central point where the park eco-bus routes meet. This is a practical place to rest and have lunch without backtracking, and it positions you well for the afternoon waterfall route.

Afternoon: Visit the waterfall circuit when the light and water flow are often at their strongest. At Nuorilang Waterfall, wide travertine steps carry water across the valley, while mist rises in the sunlight. Continue to Pearl Shoal, where water spreads across a broad limestone slope and breaks into thousands of sparkling droplets.

Evening: Exit the park around 5:40 PM and enjoy an authentic Tibetan-style dinner. Instead of a generic tourist menu, taste simple plateau dishes such as tsampa, savory butter tea and slow-simmered yak bone soup. The day closes with a grounded sense of how local mountain life connects with the landscape.