Riches of China
2-Week Shanghai-Suzhou-Hangzhou-Guilin-Xi'an-Beijing Private Tour
Enjoy the deep-rooted cultural and historical sites in Beijing and Xi'an, relax at breathtaking karst scenery in Guilin and Yangshuo, and taste the exquisite lifestyle by wandering in beautiful gardens, along the West Lake and water town in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Immerse into the rich and diverse China.
Visit six cities in 13 days to touch the diverse Chinese culture and real people's life at your own travel pace. We understand that our customers do not need to be herded.
Shanghai-Suzhou-Hangzhou-Guilin-Xi'an-Beijing Tour Map
Tour 'Wow' Points
Unveil the Lives of China's Royal Family in their Hidden Halls
Get off the ordinary sightseeing route in the Forbidden City. Listen to the interesting stories of famous personalities that are not told by typical tour guides.
Climb up upon the Greatest Project of Ancient China
Explore the most beautiful section of the Mutianyu Great Wall, where there are fewer tourists.
Lingering in the Best Representative of Chinese Classical Gardens
Enjoy a peaceful walk through the Humble Administrator's Garden. Learn about the principles of gardening in old time and understand the Chinese aesthetics.
Take a Wooden Boat to Explore a Lovely Water Town
Skip the crowded ones and visit the less touristy Longli Water Town. Experience the slow-paced life of locals .
Paint Your Own Oiled-Paper Umbrella
Skip the crowded ones and visit the less touristy Longli Water Town. Experience the slow-paced life of locals .
Be a Tea Farmerin the Tea Plantation
Visit a tea plantation producing the best green tea. Experience picking tea leaves and learn how to process different kinds of tea.
Unveil the Secrets of the Terracotta Army and Make Your Own Terracotta Warriors
Unlock some stories of the world wonder, which can't be googled. Visit a traditional cave dwelling and learn how to make warriors.
Experience Minority People's Life at the Incredible Longji Rice Terrace Fields
Unlock some stories of the world wonder, which can't be googled. Visit a traditional cave dwelling and learn how to make warriors.
Cycle through the Splendid Landscapes
Drop the 'set menu' made for ordinary tourists and see more of Guilin's amazing countryside.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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The tour was of The Greta Wall of China
The tour was excellent. Selinda was very knowledgeable about all the aspects of our tour. Selinda was very interesting and knew so much Chinese history more
Mar 2024, Alice W
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Beautiful Beijing with Ethan & Mr. Chen
Ethan, our wonderful guide, whose praises we can not sing loudly enough, was compassionate, caring, and overall endearing! His sense of ease and familiarity with each sight, which were unfamiliar wonders to us, provided a sense of peacefulness that facilitated full enjoyment - helped too by his punctuality and attention to detail. more
Feb 2024, apisn2023
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The Highlights and High Life of Beijing with Ethan & Mr. Chen
Ethan, our wonderful tour guide, made our entire trip an absolute joy for us as he was extraordinarily caring, considerate, and generous. Having had the pleasure of taking in the sights of Beijing previously with another lovely guide, Angela, it was spectacular not only to show the family how fantastic the city is but also how high the quality of services provided by China Highlights are. Each day unveiled a new treasure, helpfully detailed by Ethan, and punctuated by delicious and varied local food. Our driver, Mr. Chen, was also a delight, and was equally as key to the overall experience as he was both attentive and almost mystically punctual! more
Feb 2024, Apis
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Great Time in Beijing
Our 4-day experience in Beijing was unforgettable. Our guide, Selinda, opened the doors to the city's millennia-old history and culture with her knowledge, kindness, and courtesy. We discovered magnificent places, tasted delicious food, and stayed in clean hotels, all accompanied by safe and reliable transportation service. We recommend traveling with China Highlights. more
Feb 2024, Nicola B
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3rd time the charm, is being charmed for the 3rd time.
This is my 3rd tour of Beijing in the last 18 months and I think that speaks a little to the quality of service you get with China Highlights. Each time the sites are the same but each tour guide managed to present them in new and wonderful ways. Also some attractions that were undergoing renovations have been completed, so there were new things to see as well.A big thanks to Mr. Michael, our tour this time around. He was very gregarious and knowledgeable about all the sites. more
Feb 2024, Jonathan Mueller
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3rd time the charm, is charmed for the 3rd time
The sites stay the same but each time we have done this tour, the tour guides manage to make it feel like it is the first time you are experiencing it. And, with the constant renovations, this time we were able to see previous areas that were unavailable the last time we came. more
Feb 2024, Jonathan M
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Great trip and experience!
From beginning to end, China Highlights was very courteous, responsive and attentive in planning and executing a great trip!Aspects and execution of the trip was as discussed and was an overall great experience. Our guide, Michael, was very kind and knowledgeable throughout the tour and would address all questions and help us take lots of photos. Would definitely travel with China Highlights again! more
Feb 2024, Karol
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3rd the charm is charmed for the 3rd time
This is my 3rd tour of Beijing in the last 18 months and I think that speaks a little to the quality of service you get with China Highlights. Each time the sites are the same but each tour guide managed to present them in new and wonderful ways. Also some attractions that were undergoing renovations have been completed, so there were new things to see as well.A big thanks to Mr. Michael, our tour this time around. He was very gregarious and knowledgeable about all the sites. more
Feb 2024, jkjmueller
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1 Day in Beijing
Nice views, Not too much people, Jessi (guide ) so friendly and she have a great service & she knows the answer of all your questions more
Feb 2024, Fernando J
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Fabulous day!
Jesse He ,she is a nice tourist guide patience and take good care for us. We had a wonderful time in Beijing,we did the forbidden city and greatwall We love everything ! more
Feb 2024, Charon R
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Private trip in Beijing and Luoyang
We spent 3 days in Beijing with Helen as our guide. We went to TianAnMen, Forbidden City and MuTianYu Great Wall to name a few. Helen took great care of us and is very attentive as I travel with my 60+ years old parents, from asking whether we need restroom breaks to making sure that our lunch were all according to our dietary needs more
Jan 2024, Iriana Iriana
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An excellent day with Linda
Linda (Ling ling)is a great tour guide,provide a lot of knowledge and history of the great wall,and took us to taste very delicious food too,we had a very good time with her!highly recommend her! more
Jan 2024, Angeline Lim
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Great time in Beijing with Bruce
We stayed in Beijing for three days altogether. We went to the summer palace. the Tian'an'men square, the Forbidden City,the Temple of heaven and the Great Wall. Our tour guide Bruce is very friendly and speaks English fluently. He explained every scenic spot to us patiently and humorously. my family are very satisfied with his service. more
Jan 2024, Mayra C
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Bucket List Trip to China
My first stop in China was Beijing. Ethan was my guide there. Daily, they would pick me up and take me to the spots on the itinerary. He helped me plan outside activities like a Chinese acrobat show. He even walked me to my seat in my theater so I could easily find my correct chair. What was most helpful was Ethan waiting with me at the train station and even helping me on to my seat and giving the train attendant my meal order. Very little English was spoken by the train attendant. more
Jan 2024, Megan Sandbothe
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Great Wall at Jinshanling
We went to the Great Wall at Jinshanling which is a very beautiful place which is not that busy. In fact most of the time it felt like we were alone on the wall.The tourguide (Jack) was very knowledgeable and very friendly.A big thumbs up more
Jan 2024, Onno
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Private trip in Beijing and Luoyang
We spent 3 days in Beijing with Helen as our guide. We went to TianAnMen, Forbidden City and MuTianYu Great Wall to name a few. Helen took great care of us and is very attentive as I travel with my 60+ years old parents, from asking whether we need restroom breaks to making sure that our lunch were all according to our dietary needs. We had great 3 days in Beijing.We also visited Luoyang. Our travel advisor arranged a Business class seat for our high speed train to Luoyang. We were picked up at the station by our guide in Luoyang, Lisa. We then visited Dengfeng to see Songyang academy, shaolin temple, Luoyang grottoes. She also took care of us very well and very knowledgeable about the history. more
Jan 2024, lriana lriana
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Beijing 2024
We traveled to Beijing with China Highlights in January 2024. Our tour guide Ethan was organized and knowledgeable which made our trip seamless and very interesting!! He helpfully suggested additional activities if we had time in the evenings and assisted us in booking tickets for them. Visiting the Mutianyu Great wall of China was a big highlight of our time in Beijing! more
Jan 2024, Lydia
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Beijing 2024
We traveled to Beijing with China Highlights in January 2024. Our tour guide Ethan was organized and knowledgeable which made our trip seamless and very interesting!! He helpfully suggested additional activities if we had time in the evenings and assisted us in booking tickets for them. Visiting the Mutianyu Great wall of China was a big highlight of our time in Beijing more
Jan 2024, Explore49612084715
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Beijing
Fantastic couple days in Beijing. Thank you to my guide Mark who eloquently relayed stories about China history and culture. more
Jan 2024, Steve P
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Jack is an excellent guide
Jack is an excellent guide, very patient, punctual, wonderful command of english. I recommend him any day. more
Jan 2024, Brahma
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Suggested Itinerary
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests and schedule.
Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel
After your flight lands at Shanghai airport, you will be met by your tour guide at the arrival hall, and will transfer you to your hotel by private car and driver. They will assist you with your luggage, hotel check-in, and ensure your trip in Shanghai will go smoothly and worry-free.
Hotel options:
Sunrise On The Bund
Les Suites Orient, Bund Shanghai
Breakfast & Lunch
Shanghai's colonial legacy combined with Chinese culture has created a unique fusion of East and West, and ancient architecture to modernistic buildings. You will visit the Yuyuan Garden, located in the center of Shanghai's old city! From there, you will head to Shanghai Tower, where you can get a magnificent view of the city's ever-changing modern skyline.
Take a look at Shikumen which means "Stone Warehouse Gate", is a traditional Shanghainese architectural style building combining Western and Chinese elements that first appeared in the 1860s.
Then relax at the Bund to look at the high buildings on the other bank of the River.
Breakfast & Lunch
Head to Suzhou by a private transfer. Visit the Tongli Water Town on the way. Get a glimpse of the lives of the locals. Relax on a wooden boat as you are winding through waterways and under many stone bridges.
In the afternoon, enjoy a peaceful walk through the Humble Administrator's Garden that is the best representative of Chinese classical gardens, constructed in the Ming dynasty, which focuses on a central pond with pavilions, terraces, chambers, and towers located nearby.
Hotel options:
Hotel Soul Suzhou
Pan Pacific Suzhou (Deluxe Room)
Breakfast & Lunch
Take a bullet train from Suzhou to Hangzhou. Enjoy a cruise on the famouse West Lake. Appreciate the secenery around the lake, which gave chinese poets a lot of inspiration.
At Chenghuang Pavilion you can have a bird's-eye view over Hangzhou and West Lake. You will have a break and enjoy a Southern Song Dynasty Snacks here. Then visit a workshop of making oil umbrella to learn about this traditional Chinese craftsmanship and paint your own umbrella.
Hotel options:
Haihua Hotel Hangzhou(Standard Room)
Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake (Deluxe Room)
Breakfast & Lunch
Drive to the place of origin of the best Dragon Well tea – Meijiawu Tea Village. A local tea specialist will welcome you with bamboo baskets, and accompany you to the tea plantation. Your first task will be to choose appropriate tea leaves and pick them in the right way. After tea-picking, the tea specialist will take you home and show you the process of stir-frying tea. This process dehydrates the leaves and helps preserve their beautiful green color. If you like, you can have a go—be careful, though, the huge iron pot is very hot (around 200℃). The tea specialist will show you the art of the tea ceremony, and introduce you to the proper way to taste tea.
fly to Guilin in the afternoon.
Hotel options:
Lijiang Waterfall Hotel
Shangri-La Hotel Guilin
Breakfast & Lunch
Your guide and driver are ready to escort you to the Longji Terraced Fields that are built into the hillsides, and look like great chains or ribbons as they wind round the contours in tiered bands. Beautiful when the sun reflects in the water of the paddy fields and glowing with yellow ears when the harvest is ripe, Longji (Dragon's Back) is a feast for the eyes.
The Chinese ethnic minorities, Zhuang people and Yao people live there for generations in wooden house. You will have a chance to interact with them and have a glimpse of their lifestyle.
Breakfast & Lunch
One Day Karst Scenery Tour
Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of karst mountains, bamboo groves, buffaloes bathing in the river during summer and the sound of children swimming along the river banks. The boat will pass the scenery that printed on the Chinese 20 Yuan bank note. The trip along the Li River is a must. You will have a Chinese buffet lunch on the boat. To ensure a better quality of food, we also prepare western lunch box for you which include sandwich, French Pastry, salad.
Arrive at Yangshuo at about 13:30, walk through the West Street, your guide help you check-in at hotel. Take a short break and start the cycling along the Yulong River.
Hotel options:
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel
Breakfast & Lunch
For this day, we arrange a Chinese cooking class, which lasts for about 3 hours. It begins with going to the local food market to buy materials and ingredients for your cooking class, and then cook 2 or 3 popular Chinese dishes with guidance of a tutor, and taste fruits of your labor in the end.
In the afternoon, transfer to Guilin airport to catch the flight to Xi'an.
Hotel options:
Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an
Wyndham Grand Xi'an South
Breakfast & Lunch
Today we will take you to see the famous Terracotta Warriors buried more than 2,200 years ago. A must visit while in Xi'an. You will get some information and listen to some interesting stories about this world wonder, which can not be googled. Then, you will visit a local workshop to learn how to make a terra-cotta warrior and make one for yourself.
After lunch, You will head back to the city. There you can walk on the Ancient City Wall, or if you prefer, we can rent a bike and cycle along the city wall for a good view of the city.
Breakfast & Lunch
Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the morning, one of China's most famous Buddhist pagodas built during the Tang Dynasty. Then visit the Muslim Quarter, walk around the many stalls and sample some of their local delicacies.
Catch HSR to Beijing in the afternoon.
Hotel options:
Penta Hotel Beijing
Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town
Breakfast & Lunch
Start your tour with the Tian'an Men Square. Then walk in to the magnificient Fobidden City.
Usually people spend 2 hours in the Forbidden City and walk along the central axis which is the same with the crowds. To give a much better experience, China Highlights expert escort you in the emperors' house and show you some interesting places you would never find by yourself in the Forbidden City and guide you away from the noisy parts and crush of other tour groups.
The Temple of Heaven was the place that emperors went to worship heaven for good harvests. Nowadays It becomes an ideal place that local people do morning exercises, such as Tai Chi, playing shuttlecock, ball-room dance.
Breakfast & Lunch
Visit the Mutianyu Great Wall. This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is about 2.5 hours' drive from downtown Beijing. A cable-car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift or toboggan. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
Go back to city to visit the Summer Palace. Have a pleasant stroll at luxury garden of royal family. Different kinds of pavilions and long corridors give you full flavor of China.
Trip Notes
Extension based on the tour
Extend the tour:
- Yangtze River Cruise: add 4–5 days (Chongqing to Yichang or vice versa)
- Chengdu: usually add 2–4 days —visit a Panda research center, the Giant Buddha, Mt. Emei, Panda Keeper Program and Jiuzhaigou natural scenery. Choose your favorite.
- Hong Kong: add 2–3 days — visit Victoria Peak, Disneyland, and day tour Macau
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong are China's major entry cities.
Optional Activities
It must be clearly understood that enjoying these extras is your own decision. They are not included in the itinerary or tour price, so you will need to pay separately. The ticket price depends on seating. Ask your guide to book tickets if you want to see any of the following.
- Beijing — Legend of Kungfu Show
- Xi'an — Tang Dynasty Cultural Show plus Dumpling Banquet
- Yangshuo — Impression Third Sister Liu Night Show on the Li River (outdoor)
- Hangzhou —Impression the West Lake (outdoor)
- Shanghai — Chinese Acrobats Show
Price includes: