Tour Code: CT-BXCHS-415-19D
Beijing · Xi’an · Chengdu · Hangzhou · Wuzhen · Huangshan · Nanjing · Suzhou · Shanghai
Arrive in Beijing, China’s capital and the starting point of your 19-day journey. Your local representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel by private transfer.
After check-in, the rest of the day is left free so you can relax, recover from the flight, and adjust to the local time. Depending on your arrival time, you may take a short walk near the hotel or simply rest before the sightseeing begins tomorrow.
Accommodation: Beijing
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: None
Morning:
Leave the city behind and head into the mountains north of Beijing for the Mutianyu Great Wall. A cable car takes you up to the wall, where you can walk between ancient watchtowers and look out over the rolling mountain ridges. For many travelers, this is the moment when China’s history suddenly feels real — vast, powerful, and unforgettable.
Afternoon:
Return to Beijing and visit the Olympic Park area. From the outside, see the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, two landmarks from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After the Great Wall in the morning, this stop gives you a very different view of Beijing: modern, confident, and constantly changing.
Accommodation: Beijing
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Begin at Tiananmen Square, one of the most symbolic public spaces in China. From here, walk into the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. As you move through its gates, courtyards and grand halls, the scale of China’s imperial world becomes easier to understand.
Afternoon:
Continue to Jingshan Park, just behind the Forbidden City. A short climb leads to one of the best views in Beijing, where you can look down over the golden rooftops and see the palace layout from above.
Accommodation: Beijing
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Visit either the Summer Palace or the Temple of Heaven, depending on the final schedule. The Summer Palace shows Beijing’s imperial garden style through lakes, pavilions and long corridors, while the Temple of Heaven reveals the ceremonial side of ancient imperial life.
Afternoon:
Transfer to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Xi’an, one of China’s great ancient capitals. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the station and take you to your hotel for check-in.
Accommodation: Xi’an
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum, one of China’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries. Standing in front of thousands of life-sized soldiers, horses and chariots, you can feel the ambition and power of the Qin Empire more than 2,000 years ago.
Afternoon:
Return to Xi’an and walk along the Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved city walls in China. From the top, you can look across the old city and see how Xi’an still carries the shape of an ancient capital.
Evening:
Continue to Datang Everbright City, a lively pedestrian area inspired by the Tang Dynasty. With lights, performances and traditional-style architecture, it is one of the best places to experience Xi’an’s evening atmosphere.
Accommodation: Xi’an
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda, a quieter historic site that offers a more peaceful side of Xi’an. Its ancient brick structure, temple setting and long history give you a different feeling from the city’s grand imperial landmarks. Nearby, explore Xi’an Museum to see cultural relics and learn how the city developed through different dynasties.
Afternoon:
Continue to the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, two of Xi’an’s most recognizable landmarks. Their traditional architecture stands right in the heart of the modern city, creating one of Xi’an’s classic street views.
Later, walk through the Muslim Quarter, a lively neighborhood filled with food stalls, local snacks, old lanes and everyday street life. It is a good place to feel Xi’an’s energy beyond the museums and historical sites.
Accommodation: Xi’an
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Take the high-speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu. After arrival, your local guide will meet you at the station and transfer you into the city by private vehicle.
Afternoon:
Visit Wuhou Shrine, one of Chengdu’s key cultural sites linked to the Three Kingdoms period. With your guide’s explanation, the stories of famous strategists, generals and ancient rivalries become easier to follow.
Continue to nearby Jinli Old Street, a lively area with traditional-style buildings, local snacks and folk performances. Here, Chengdu starts to feel very different from Xi’an — softer, slower, and full of everyday Sichuan flavor.
Accommodation: Chengdu
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, one of the best places in China to see giant pandas in a well-managed environment. Walk through areas such as the Moonlight Nursery, Sunshine Nursery and young panda enclosures, and watch the pandas eating bamboo, climbing, playing or simply taking a long nap.
Afternoon:
Continue to People’s Park, a classic place to see Chengdu’s slow local rhythm. You may sit in a traditional teahouse, try a bowl of covered-bowl tea, or experience local ear cleaning if you wish.
Afterwards, visit Kuanzhai Alley, a historic neighborhood made up of Wide Alley, Narrow Alley and Well Alley. With Qing-style courtyards, Sichuan snacks, small shops and cafés, it gives you a relaxed look at Chengdu’s mix of old streets, local life and modern creativity.
Accommodation: Chengdu
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Fly from Chengdu to Hangzhou, a city known for its West Lake scenery, elegant gardens and softer Jiangnan atmosphere. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Afternoon:
Enjoy free time after the flight. You can rest at the hotel, take a gentle walk nearby, or simply ease into Hangzhou’s calmer pace and humid southern climate before sightseeing continues tomorrow.
Accommodation: Hangzhou
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Travel from Hangzhou to Wuzhen, one of the most atmospheric water towns in the Jiangnan region. Walk along stone-paved lanes, pass old bridges and canals, and see traditional white-walled houses with dark-tiled roofs. Your guide will introduce Wuzhen’s history, local customs and daily life, with visits to places such as the former residence of Mao Dun, Xiuzhen Taoist Temple and Huiyuan Pawnshop.
Afternoon:
Continue exploring Wuzhen’s East Scenic Area and take a traditional wooden boat through the narrow waterways. As the boat moves past old houses, bridges and quiet canals, the town feels almost like a classical Chinese painting. Later, return to Hangzhou.
Accommodation: Hangzhou
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Visit West Lake, the landscape that has shaped Hangzhou’s identity for centuries. Take a boat ride across the lake to enjoy views such as Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, Su Causeway and, in the right season, the poetic scenery associated with Broken Bridge.
After the boat ride, walk along Su Causeway and enjoy the lake from a slower, closer perspective. Your guide will also share some of West Lake’s best-known stories, including the legend of Lady White Snake and Xu Xian.
Afternoon:
Transfer to the railway station and take the high-speed train to Huangshan. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the station and take you to the hotel.
The evening is free. You may rest at the hotel or try local Anhui dishes on your own, such as Mandarin fish or Mao tofu.
Accommodation: Huangshan
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Travel to the entrance of Huangshan Scenic Area, then take the scenic shuttle and cable car up into the mountains. Begin exploring the core area around Yuping Pavilion, the famous Guest-Greeting Pine and Tiandu Peak, depending on seasonal opening conditions.
Huangshan is known for its “five wonders”: ancient pine trees, unusual rock formations, seas of clouds, hot springs and winter snow. As you walk through the mountain paths and viewpoints, your guide will explain the landscape, local legends and why Huangshan has inspired Chinese painters and poets for centuries.
Afternoon:
Continue to key scenic viewpoints such as Bright Summit and Flying-over Rock. If the weather is favorable, you may see Huangshan’s famous sea of clouds and wide mountain panoramas.
Later, take the cable car down and return by scenic shuttle to the entrance before heading back to your hotel for rest.
Accommodation: Huangshan
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Take the high-speed train from Huangshan to Nanjing, another of China’s great historic capitals. Upon arrival, your local guide will meet you at the station and transfer you into the city.
Afternoon:
Visit Nanjing Museum, one of China’s major museums, with rich collections of historical relics, paintings, bronzes and cultural artifacts. Through the exhibits and your guide’s explanations, you can better understand Nanjing’s long role as an ancient capital and cultural center.
Evening:
Continue to the Qinhuai River Scenic Area, one of Nanjing’s most atmospheric evening districts. Walk along the riverside, visit the Confucius Temple area and Jiangnan Examination Hall, and enjoy the soft lights, old buildings and lively streets.
You may also try local Qinhuai snacks or browse small shops at your own pace.
Accommodation: Nanjing
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Visit Meiling Palace, a graceful villa that reflects Nanjing’s Republican-era history and architectural style. Continue to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, one of the city’s most important modern historical landmarks. Set against the mountain, its long stairway, grand design and solemn atmosphere make the visit feel both impressive and reflective.
Afternoon:
Explore the Zhonghua Gate section of the Nanjing Ming City Wall, where you can see the scale and strength of the old city defenses. Then visit Jiming Temple, a peaceful Buddhist temple with traditional halls and, in spring, seasonal cherry blossoms.
End the day with a walk along Yihe Road, a quiet neighborhood known for Republican-era villas, tree-lined streets and old Nanjing character.
Accommodation: Nanjing
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Travel from Nanjing to Suzhou, a city known for classical gardens, canals and refined Jiangnan culture.
Afternoon:
Visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden, one of Suzhou’s most famous classical gardens. As you walk past pavilions, ponds, rockeries, flowers and old trees, you can see how Suzhou gardens create changing views at every turn.
Later, stroll along Pingjiang Road Historic District, a canal-side neighborhood with stone lanes, old houses, small bridges, local snacks and craft shops. It is a softer, more everyday side of Suzhou, where the city’s elegance feels close and lived-in.
Accommodation: Suzhou
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Visit Tiger Hill, one of Suzhou’s most historic landmarks. Explore Yunyan Pagoda, often called China’s leaning tower, along with Sword Pond and Thousand People Rock. Your guide will also share stories connected with King Helü of Wu, adding more depth to the site’s ancient atmosphere.
Afternoon:
Continue to Hanshan Temple, a peaceful temple made famous by the Tang-dynasty poem Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night. Visit the main hall, bell tower, stele corridor and Maple Bridge while listening to the cultural stories behind the temple’s famous bell.
Later, stroll along Shantang Street, also known as Seven-Li Shantang. This canal-side old street is lined with traditional houses, small bridges, Ming- and Qing-style buildings, local shops and heritage craft stores. You may also choose to take a hand-rowed boat along the canal at your own expense.
Accommodation: Suzhou
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Morning:
Travel from Suzhou to Shanghai, China’s most dynamic modern city and the final stop of your journey.
Afternoon:
Visit Yu Garden, a classical garden hidden within Shanghai’s old city area. With pavilions, ponds, rockeries and traditional courtyards, it offers a quieter glimpse of old Jiangnan aesthetics before you step back into the modern city.
Continue to Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, one of Shanghai’s most famous shopping streets. Here, historic storefronts, local crowds, neon signs and modern malls come together in a lively city scene.
Evening:
Walk along the Bund beside the Huangpu River. On one side, you’ll see Shanghai’s historic waterfront buildings; across the river, the skyscrapers of Lujiazui — including the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower — light up the skyline. It is one of the best places to feel Shanghai’s contrast between old and new.
Accommodation: Shanghai
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Morning:
Start with a walk along Wukang Road, one of Shanghai’s most charming historic streets. The area is known for old villas, leafy sidewalks, cafés, boutique shops and the famous Wukang Building. It is a good place to see Shanghai’s quieter, more stylish side and enjoy some relaxed photo time.
Afternoon:
Continue to Lujiazui, Shanghai’s modern financial district. See landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower and Jin Mao Tower, then go up either the Oriental Pearl Tower or Shanghai Tower for a panoramic view over the city.
Later, visit Xintiandi, a fashionable district built around restored Shikumen houses. Here, traditional Shanghai architecture blends with restaurants, shops, bars and modern urban life.
Accommodation: Shanghai
Hotel: Carefully selected local 5-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then spend your remaining time in Shanghai at your own pace. Depending on your flight schedule, you may relax at the hotel, take a short walk nearby, or do some last-minute shopping.
At the arranged time, your private transfer will take you to the airport for your onward flight, bringing this 19-day journey across China to a close.
Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast
Carefully selected local 5-star hotels are arranged in Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Huangshan, Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai for a comfortable journey across China.
Final hotel details will be confirmed before departure, and room upgrades or alternative hotel options can be arranged based on your preferences and budget.
Professional English-speaking local guides will be arranged in each destination to assist with sightseeing, transfers and on-the-ground coordination throughout the trip.
Guide arrangements are organized according to the itinerary, helping each part of the journey run smoothly and clearly.
Admission tickets to the attractions listed in the itinerary are included.
China travel accident insurance is included for the duration of your trip.
Full policy details can be provided upon request.
International transportation to and from China is not included in the tour price. We are happy to assist with flight recommendations or booking arrangements to help ensure a smooth connection with your itinerary.
China visa application and related fees are not included.
Comprehensive international travel insurance is not included.
The travel accident insurance included during your trip in China does not replace full international travel insurance.
Guests are advised to arrange suitable coverage before departure.
Any experiences, tickets, or transportation not specified in the itinerary are not included.
Optional shows, special experiences, or upgrades arranged during free time may incur additional costs.
Personal expenses such as shopping, individual purchases, and discretionary spending are not included.
Gratuities for your guide and driver are not included and remain at your discretion.
Yes. It is especially suitable for first-time visitors who want more than the basic Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai route. This itinerary adds Chengdu’s giant pandas, Hangzhou’s West Lake, Wuzhen Water Town, Huangshan, Nanjing and Suzhou, giving travelers a broader view of China’s history, culture, scenery, Jiangnan atmosphere, local life and modern cities.
This is a rich and fairly active itinerary, with more destinations than a standard classic China route. It is better suited to travelers who want to see more of China in one trip. The route follows a logical path from Beijing to Xi’an, Chengdu, East China and Shanghai, using high-speed trains, flights and private transfers to reduce unnecessary backtracking. The Great Wall, Huangshan and some old town areas do involve walking, but the pace can be adjusted on a private tour.
These Jiangnan destinations add a softer and more elegant side of China to the journey. Hangzhou has West Lake, Wuzhen offers classic water-town scenery, and Suzhou is known for classical gardens and old canal-side streets. Together, they balance the heavier historical atmosphere of Beijing, Xi’an and Nanjing with a more refined eastern China experience.
Yes, especially for travelers who want natural scenery in addition to cities and cultural sites. Huangshan is very different from the other stops on this itinerary, with dramatic peaks, pine trees, rock formations, cable cars and, in good weather, sea-of-cloud views. It gives the 19-day route more variety and makes the journey feel less city-focused.
It works best for travelers who want a mix of both. Beijing, Xi’an and Nanjing focus more on history and culture; Chengdu brings pandas and local lifestyle; Hangzhou, Wuzhen and Suzhou show Jiangnan scenery and old-town charm; Huangshan adds mountain landscapes; and Shanghai gives the trip a modern city finale.
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