11-day Beijing–Xi'an–Guilin/Yangshuo-Shanghai private tour plan

When you arrive in Beijing, your local tour guide, driver, and a well-maintained private van will be waiting for you.

Your guide will assist you with your luggage and help you to check in at your hotel for a worry-free start to your stay.

Hotel options:
Novotel Beijing Peace (4-star)
Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (5-star)

Proudly the largest world-famous square, Tian'anmen Square has witnessed numerous historical events and is also in front of the Forbidden City. With countless houses, chambers, and halls, the Forbidden City was not only a royal residence but is a treasure trove for many cultural relics.

The halls may seem a mystery, but your knowledgeable private tour guide will bring the history to life for you. Enjoy some Beijing cuisine for lunch. Afterwards, take a short rickshaw ride in the hutong alleys before stepping into a traditional hutong house.

There, you and your kids will spend a couple of hours with a local artist trying out some old handicrafts, such as mask painting for the Peking opera, paper cutting, or Chinese calligraphy. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Chinese Calligraphy Learning in Hutong Family

How long is the Great Wall? If only we got a nickel for every time we were asked this question… Once you step on this man-made wonder, a sense of wonder eclipses the statistics.

After a brief visit to the Temple of Heaven and lunch, your day will be dedicated to the Great Wall. The Mutianyu section is an all-time favorite because of its close distance to Beijing, top ranking on TripAdvisor, and easy accessibility. Usually we recommend families to take a chair lift up and take a toboggan back down so the children can have more fun, but we can also arrange a round-trip cable car depending on your preferences.

The Great Wall

The Toboggan at Mutianyu

The Summer Palace, as indicated by its name, provided the royal court with cool surroundings thanks to its lush gardens, beautiful pavilions and theaters, and a big lake for boat trips. Make this morning a leisurely outing before you leave for Xi'an.

It is 1,075 kilometers (668 miles) between Beijing and Xi'an and a bullet train journey cuts the commute from 15 hours down to 6 hours. Get on and enjoy the speedy yet steady journey. A private car and friendly guide will escort you to your hotel in Xi'an.

Hotel options:
West Capital International Hotel (4-star)
Wyndham Grand Xi'an South (5-star)

The Summer Palace

The High-speed Train

Charged up for the day, you will kick start it with a biking experience on the ancient city wall in Xi'an. This aged and renovated defense project surrounded Xi'an during its days as ancient China's capital for several centuries.

Drive out of town to the massive site of the Terracotta Army. Most of the emperors throughout history devoted their lives and money in pursuit of eternal life — Emperor Qin Shi Huang was no exception. As his funeral objects, this grand array of life-size horses, chariots, cavalries, infantries, and weapons displays the tip of the iceberg of his ambition for immortal life and power.

Did you know that all the terracotta warriors were originally colored? The old paint has faded with time yet the craftsmanship still shines. You will try to make your own terracotta warrior inside a traditional cave dwelling.

The Terra Cotta Warriors

Make a mini warrior in a cave dwelling

Pay a visit to the starting point of the Silk Road: the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Then it's time to try on the Hanfu, or Han-style clothing, which dates back to 202 BC. The hanbok in Korea, the kimono in Japan, and the ao dai in Vietnam were all inspired and upgraded from the Hanfu. Your family can try on this clothing and take a photo. You will look like a family who has traveled in time from the Han Dynasty. Meet up with another family in town. They will teach you how to make dumplings on your own, which are just as good, if not better than, those from Manchu Wok or Panda Express.

Fly southbound to Guilin. Transfer to your hotel and rest in the afternoon.

Hotel options:
Sheraton Guilin Hotel (4-star)
Lijiang Waterfall Hotel (5-star)

Make dumplings in a local family

Try on China's traditional costume (Hanfu)

No matter whether you are a geology fan or not, you are still bound to be amazed by Guilin's spectacular karst features as you step into Reed Flute Cave. Although lights were only added to this site some decades ago, a fascinating fact is that it has been Guilin's most-visited attraction for over 1,200 years.

Pull yourself back to reality and, after lunch, learn the art of embellishing a Chinese landscape painting with pebbles from the Li River. Then you will visit the ancient town of Daxu. Daxu used to be the primary port back in the glorious days when Guilin was Guangxi's provincial capital. Those days are long gone yet Uncle Chow might still have some interesting stories to tell you.

Daxu Ancient Town

Chinese landscape painting with Li River pebbles

The beautiful Li River has inspired many poets and artists. We have arranged a 4-hour cruise trip for you to discover the source of their inspiration. You will reach Yangshuo in the early afternoon.

After checking in at your hotel, meet a local family in Gaotian Rural District who are busy with their farm work and could use your help. Planting, ploughing, sowing, harvesting, or milling — roll up your sleeves for some experiences that your children might never learn at school. Return to your hotel and kick back by the swimming pool.

Hotel options:
Yangshuo Mountain Retreat (4-star)
Yangshuo Ancient Garden Boutique Hotel (5-star)

Li River

Farming Experience

Yangshuo is the place that finally slows you down. Escape from the cities and be with your family in beautiful surroundings. Peddle through lush fields, humble villages, and bustling local markets — a cycling trip creates precious family moments.

You will be taken back to Guilin for your flight to Shanghai. Transfer to your hotel and rest for the day.

Hotel options:
Sunrise On The Bund (4-star)
Les Suites Orient, Bund Shanghai (5-star)

Biking in the countryside

Shanghai might give you a feeling of déjà vu as some parts look how New York, Chicago, or London did a few decades ago, yet the stories behind it are the true appeal and what make it differ from the other cities.

The first stop will be the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. At this interesting exhibition center, which you may consider to be an extensive LEGO playground, you will see how the old and dingy sections received a beautiful makeover. You will also see how everything is built for a better living sphere, not just for the Shanghainese but for an increasing number of expats.

Half-Day Customized Icing-on-the-Cake Experience

After traveling in China for around 10 days, you might want to do something different at the end of your tour. Do you want to have some relaxation time? Do you have any unfulfilled trip wishes? In the magic city of Shanghai, your private guide will make your wishes come true!

Whether you want to relax, experience fashion, appreciate art, explore folk customs, or shop; from having fun in fancy bar to exploring an art center, trying nail beauty, testing your popularity in the marriage market, or just buying some lovely gifts, we will make it happen. Just tell us what you’re interested in.

If you don’t know what you want, just let your guide make the arrangements. You will not be disappointed!

The Bund

After we have escorted you to the airport, you will wave goodbye to China.

Thanks for allowing us to create such a wonderful journey and we hope to see you again soon!