With a 3-week trip to China, you could enjoy a wide range of China's star attractions, including profound history, varied awesome landscapes, great architecture, and rich cultural experiences.
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Where to Spend 3 Weeks in China
With a 3-week trip in China, Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, and Shanghai are must-visit cities, especially for first-timers.
Beijing enjoys the most famous attractions like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Xi'an is famous for its Terracotta Warriors and being the best place to learn about China's ancient civilization.
Guilin is best for appreciating China's natural scenery and experiencing its countryside lifestyle. Shanghai is where you can see the collision of Republic-era rapid-rise and mega-city modernity.
Besides these top destinations, you can choose other destinations based on your interests:
- Chengdu is a must if seeing pandas is on your bucket list, especially for a family trip. Yunnan is recommended for those who like fascinating minority villages and natural views.
- If Tibet is on your bucket list, you can fit it in a 3-week itinerary. Tibet's holy Buddhist culture and vibe with its stunning plateau scenery are many a traveler's dream.
- If you would prefer a relaxing experience and pace or seeking out classical Chinese beauty, we recommend a Yangtze Cruise or visiting Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Huangshan — Shanghai's surrounding area.
- Or you can tell us your preferred destinations. Our service is personalized.
See more on How Long to Spend in China: Itineraries from 1 Week to 1 Month
If you don't have any clear ideas yet, have a look at our three sample itineraries below for a starting point that you might like.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Excellent Encapsulation/Set of Experiences across China
It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.) more
Mar 2024, Ryan Farnan
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Only way to see Beijing
From the time we landed in Beijing until we left, we were well taken care of. My wife and I had Lily Liu as our guide and she was amazing. From arranging visits to all the different sights, to teaching us the history, it was fantastic. more
Mar 2024, John S
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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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Chengdu at it`s best
We made a private tour through South China in January 2024. Altogether Chengdu was the highlight. We had an incredible day at Emeishan. In Chengdu our guidewas Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen. more
Feb 2024, peter
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Best Tour Ever
Other highlights are too many to mention but here are a few Ken taking us to the Terracotta Warriors and our food tour in Xian was amazing, more
Feb 2024, Liz Hickson
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Chengdu and Volunteer program Panda base
Our day volunteering at the Panda Base was truly unforgettable. Helen, our guide, provided us with invaluable insights about Chengdu and the pandas, enriching our tour with her knowledge and expertise. We're grateful to Helen for accompanying us throughout the day and showcasing the highlights of China. more
Feb 2024, Eliaquim
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Chengdu at it`s best
We had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen. more
Feb 2024, Peter
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Shanghai tour with Kris
We traveled to China during the Chinese new year and we had Kris as our guide and he is simply knowledgeable,helpful and great. more
Feb 2024, Maria C
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Guilin 2024
We visited Guilin for 2 days and stayed in the Guilin Waterfall hotel. Guilin was absolutely beautiful! Our guide, William, was very knowledgeable and kind! He taught us so much about Guilin and the surrounding area! We really enjoyed trying the specialty rice noodles of Guilin. Our highlight was the Li river cruise. more
Feb 2024, Explore
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Excellent service
Amazing tour and the guide Mr. 贺霄 was very accommodating with our needs and request as we have bought our 2 years old with us. Well explained for all the place we visited. Any additional cost were informed well ahead and didn't felt any pressure if we opt not to go for additional detour. The trip was relaxing/ laid back/no rushing with zero shopping! more
Feb 2024, JJC
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We had an amazing to China
We had an amazing to China. Our tour guide Martin in Shanghai was super knowledgeable, caring and very flexible with our itinerary. When my wife got sick in the Shanghai, he was able to arrange an English-speaking doctor on the spot and took us to the clinic. On top of the that, Martin and the driver stayed with us at the clinic for the whole duration and drove us back to the hotel afterwards. His genuine concern for our welfare and willingness to go the extra mile did not go unnoticed, and we were deeply touched by his kindness and compassion. more
Feb 2024, Ray Luan
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Amazing trip to China
We had an amazing to China. Our tour guide Martin in Shanghai was super knowledgeable, caring and very flexible with our itinerary. When my wife got sick in the Shanghai, he was able to arrange an English-speaking doctor on the spot and took us to the clinic. On top of the that, Martin and the driver stayed with us at the clinic for the whole duration and drove us back to the hotel afterwards. His genuine concern for our welfare and willingness to go the extra mile did not go unnoticed, and we were deeply touched by his kindness and compassion. more
Feb 2024, Ray L.
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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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Shanghai 2024
We had an amazing to China. Our tour guide Martin in Shanghai was super knowledgeable, caring and very flexible with our itinerary. When my wife got sick in the Shanghai, he was able to arrange an English-speaking doctor on the spot and took us to the clinic. On top of the that, Martin and the driver stayed with us at the clinic for the whole duration and drove us back to the hotel afterwards. His genuine concern for our welfare and willingness to go the extra mile did not go unnoticed, and we were deeply touched by his kindness and compassion. more
Feb 2024, Venture33530492375
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Beautiful Yangshuo
Guilin, but mostly Yangshuo was at the tail end of our China adventure so there was a lot to live up to. Having a guide like Gary Wei meant that our trip ended on a high! We arrived in Guilin very late from an 11 hour train journey. Gary met us with gifts of fruit, sweet bread and cakes which was so unexpected and thoughtful.Gary's knowledge of the area was exceptional and his attention to us the same. He really took our children under his wing - even tuning in to annoying sibling rivalry and managing to keep the peace very well! Gary was our personal photographer at times and even our Taiji instructor, making a beautiful video of us all doing Taiji in a scenic setting :)The cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is definitely worth taking and we enjoyed our few nights in the area, riding bikes along the river, doing a cooking class and enjoying the scenery more
Feb 2024, JenB
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Vincent was a fantastic guide !
Vincent was a fantastic guide !Vincent is a wonderful & warm guide. He is extremely knowledgeable and his explanations are excellent. He showed us around Guilin & Yangshuo. He attended to all of our needs and really made the tour very special more
Feb 2024, David
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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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Alice was a fantastic tour guide
Alice was a fantastic tour guide. She took us to many places in and around Lijiang including Jade Dragon Snow mountain and the old town. She is knowledgeable and very warm & friendly and very helpful with everything more
Feb 2024, 文文
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Thank you, Shannon. Thank you, Xi,an.
We met our tour guide Shannon in Xi,an and we enjoyed very much our stay. Her good English level and her knowledge of the history of the city made our jorney very memorable. Kind, flexible and patient, she attended all our wishes. We will always be grateful for her work. more
Feb 2024, Man B
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1. A Classic 3-Week China Itinerary for First-Timers
It is a classic itinerary blend of culture and nature, with some hands-on local-culture experiences.
This itinerary includes China's top tourist cities and top Chinese elements like the pandas, the Great Wall, and classical Chinese gardens and water towns:
- Days 1–2: Shanghai
- Day 3: Suzhou
- Day 4–5: Huangshan
- Days 6–7: Hangzhou
- Days 8–10: Guilin
- Days 11–12: Zhangjiajie
- Days 13–15: Xi'an
- Days 16–17: Datong
- Days 18–21: Beijing
Days 1–2: Shanghai
Shanghai is a city where you can feel a strong sense of urban vitality and also see its remarkable past by visiting many old buildings.
The Bund is a must, where you can experience in a turn of the head the contrast between Shanghai's past and present, seeing the old buildings and skyscrapers from the riverside.
Day 3: Suzhou
Suzhou is famous for its classical Chinese gardens. Humble Administrator's Garden is a masterpiece among Chinese gardens. It is a must.
A night tour of the Nets Master Garden is also recommended. You would see a different panorama from a daytime visit and find amazing live traditional Chinese cultural performances staged in the pavilions.
If you want to see authentic Suzhou local life, we can arrange a rickshaw ride through its small alleys to see food markets, ancient wells, and stone pagodas along the way.
Tongli Water Town near Suzhou is also a recommendation if you want to see ancient architecture and the traditional culture of South China.
Days 4–5: The Yellow Mountains (Huangshan)
The Yellow Mountains is one of the most famous mountain areas in China. Spring is best for rape flower vistas. Pine trees and seas of clouds are best seen in summer, and red leaves feature in autumn. Winter can display magical scenes of frost flowers and rime.
Bishan Village is the best choice if you want to enjoy some quiet moments in the Huangshan countryside with your partner. Stay in a typical Hui-style inn, feel the freshness of the air on an early morning walk, and drink a coffee while enjoying nature in its unspoiled beauty.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Excellent Encapsulation/Set of Experiences across China
It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.) more
Mar 2024, Ryan Farnan
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Beautiful Hongshuan
We recently spent 4 days with Alvin hosting us throughout Huangshan, Tunxi and Hongcun. The scenery was spectacular, hotels quirky, food excellent and knowledge and passion from Alvin was so invaluable and also fun! Would highly recommend. more
Jan 2024, Joanne
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2 days in the mountains
Alvin was attentive and good company. He went to the extra effort to show us things we were interested in viewing and provided detailed information. more
Jan 2024, Robert Fleming
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Huangshan 2-5 Jan 2024
As compared to another guide I had back in 2019 for Huangshan with another agency, Jack’s services were exemplary. He was patient and flexible to accommodate to our requests. Very knowledgeable, responsible and responsive. Throughout the trip he was always telling us the best angles and spots for nice pictures. Most importantly, he speaks English, hence we are able to communicate comfortably with a mix of Chinese and English. more
Jan 2024, Amanda Tan
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5 days 4 nights Huang Shan trip
I had very little time to plan for this trip due to my busy schedule. Emily was very helpful and almost instantly drafted a planned itinerary for me and my family after a short chat with her. Super efficient and it took me just hours to decide on my schedule. We had also very good guide (小赵)with us. She is meticulous and knowledgeable, we were all very well taken care of during the trip. Had a great and enjoyable trip! more
Dec 2023, David
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Huangshan
We booked a 3 day tour of Huangshan with China Highlights. Tony was our guide in Huangshan. He was very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. I was able to appreciate the Hui culture and Huangshan more thanks to Tony. The entire trip went smoothly thanks to China Highlights! more
Dec 2023, helen
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Wonderful experience!
Absolutely stunning at every turn. Our guide, Jack showed us wonderfully beautiful spots where few visitors go. He knew all the best spots and went out of his way to ensure our stay exceeded our expectations. The arranged hotel was very good too. Well done! more
Nov 2023, george123w2014
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Great experience from beginning to end!
Our guide, Frank, in Huangshan, Xidi and HongCun was knowledgeable, punctual and personable. He made everything go smoothly. The trip to China was wonderful and was enjoyed by my adult kids and their partners who have never been to China. Thank you both so much!!! more
Nov 2023, Susan X. Lu
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China 29 days trip
From our guide in Xi’an to the guide in Kwelin , they are all excellent. 韩颂 in Beijing, Susan in Xi’an, Alvin in Huang Shan, Sally in YiZhang , Peter in Zongzhing, Doyle in 昆明,Daisy in Tali, Martin in Lijiang and the last Vincent in Guilin. They all performed their services well. We are happy to have met them, hopefully we will keep in touch. more
Nov 2023, Tiong-Oen Pouw
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Enjoyable short trip with beautiful sightseeing
The Local Guide Tony was knowledgeable and he gave lots of information about the province and towns. He was patient to us especially I have slight difficulty in walking. He was capable and managed to bring us around Huang Shan to see all the different peaks and other sights even though the weather was not ideal on the first day.Overall, we enjoyed our 4 days 3 nights trip. more
Nov 2023, Lay San Ong
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Huangshan, Anhui Province, China
Our guide, Tony, was very kind, helpful and had an excellent level of English.This was the first time I booked directly with a Chinese travel agency, but I would certainly do it again and recommend it to everyone who wants to visit China. more
Oct 2023, Ina
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Stunning Yellow Mountain and beautiful Ancient Villages
We had the most fantastic experience with our tour guide, Jack Fan, who is very knowledgeable about the Yellow Mountain and was able to get us quickly to the most stunning highlights. He was our "photographer" anytime we wanted a photo and that was very often. We made the most of our time having him guiding us. He was truly the mountain man as he is a local there. He is very passionate about what he does. He loves history, nature, and travel, which is a must for a guide. He provided historical facts about the stunning Ancient villages at Hong Cun and Xidi. He answered any questions we had about history, nature, and current things we had. I felt like he was a professor, and we were his students in a very good way. He was NEVER late, and neither was our driver. They never bought us anywhere to "sell" us things. He took us to buy tea only when we asked to buy a specific tea, staying much later than he should have! I wanted to check out lotus and rice fields, which was not on the itinerary, but he squeezed it in for us. We were very well taken care of. I highly recommend Jack for a tour guide who speaks English. more
Sep 2023, annemompt
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Beautiful Huangshan
Our tour guide Tony was indeed very knowledgeable and helpful the entire trip. His explanation and description of the villages in English is very good. Tony is very accommodating to our requests too. The hike up in the mountains was really good and exciting and Tony managed to bring us to most of the recommended viewpoints and waited for us to catch our breath when we’re too exhausted hiking. I fully recommend getting Tony as your guide. more
Jul 2023, CindyBeezeebee
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"The Mysterious and Gorgeous Peaks Make Yellow Mountain a MUST Visit"
My girlfriend and I went to Yellow Mountain during the Labor Day Holiday in China, and honestly were amazed by the actual beauty of it all. Our tour guide Sunny (thank you so much for your exquisite work) made our trip even better. The hotels that were chosen by the China Highlights agency were perfect, the Shanshui Boutique in the heart of the Huangshan city was so convenient to walk from, and the Xihai Hotel on the mountains was a perfect stop for the hiking we did for two days. The tour that we did was not enough to see everything of course so we shall be returning in the near future. We were so lucky about the weather and the crowds (holiday) that the perfect visit was even more marvelous as I proposed to my girlfriend on the Flying Rock peak during a breathtaking sunset. This will always be our rock and for that I am very grateful since Sunny the tour guide made it perfect for us. more
May 2023, High F
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Absolutely Stunning Yellow Mountains
In April 23 China Highlights organised a 3 day, 2 night trip for us from Shanghai to Huangshan. From the Bullet Train to the scenery at the World Heritage Yellow Mountains to the Tea ceremony - It's a must visit for anyone visiting China, however, not often on Western Tourist Programs. more
May 2023, Megan S
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Stunning Yellow Mountains - Huangshan
In April 23 China Highlights organised a 3 day, 2 night trip for us from Shanghai to Huangshan in the Anhui Province. From the Bullet Train to the scenery at the World Heritage Yellow Mountains, the meals and the Tea ceremony - It's a must visit for anyone visiting China, however, not often on Western Tourist Programs. Liberman who arranged the trip, and Tony who was our guide were always available to assist us. 10/10 - Thanks very much. Adam Liaws, "Destination Flavour China"(S1 Episode2 visits the Anhui province - worth a watch to see how beautiful the region is. more
May 2023, Leonie Megan
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Mystical misty mountain tour
We three ladies took a three-day trip away from our families to enjoy the peace of the countryside and the inspiring beauty of Huangshan. China Highlights and our tour guide, Jack Fan, made the trip everything we had hoped for an even more. We started the first day with bicycle and foot tours in Bishan Village- absolutely charming! We then moved to Huangshan and… wow! It’s easy to see what artists and poets have been inspired throughout the centuries. Jack has spent years on the mountain and knows every corner of it. He made sure to take us to the best places in the limited time we had and made it all extra special by sharing the history and stories. He also knew exactly how long every path would take and planned to maximize our time with a steady pace. Early rain quickly passed and left us with the views of the moving “sea of clouds” that everyone talks about. We are all so glad we didn’t miss Huangshan- there’s a reason everyone says it’s the most beautiful mountain in China. Thanks, Jack, for a wonderful tour! more
Apr 2023, christinajeanne
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4 Day Yellow Mountain Trip
Tony was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, who skillfully dealt with any issues as they arose to make sure the days passed seamlessly and enjoyably. more
Sep 2022, Paul
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5-Day Dynamic Huangshan Tour is a must!
My husband and I were in awe of the natural beauty of the Yellow Mountain. Our guide Phillip Tong, with China Highlights, gave us an exceptional experience at our pace. (As an older couple this was greatly appreciated.) He shared his vast knowledge of history and cultural significance as we trekked over and around the mountain, touring Bishan, and Hongcun. We concluded our trip by making fish lanterns. China Highlights has once again provided us with great memories. more
Aug 2022, Catherine C
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I did a 4 day trekking in the Yellow…
I did a 4 day trekking in the Yellow Mountains with China Highlights and it was even more stunning than I thought it would be. Spend two nights in the mountains and one in Huangshan, totally worth is. This is a place you must visit and according to my guide every season had it’s own beauty. I will definitely come back! Coco planned the whole trip according to my wishes and Tony was a perfect guide being very knowledgeable and supportive. If you don’t have 4 days I’m sure a three, or even two, day trip will be very nice as well! more
Aug 2022, Elizabeth
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Days 6–7: Hangzhou
West Lake and a famous tea experience are the highlights of Hangzhou. A boat ride on West Lake is one of the best ways to enjoy its views. We can also arrange a bike ride around the lake if you prefer.
Meijiawu Tea Plantation is the place of origin of the best 'Dragon Well' tea in China. There you can see how farmers pick tea leaves, learn the process for making tea, and taste a cup of China's most-adored tea.
If you want to learn still more about Chinese culture, we can arrange many more experiences for you, such as taking you to visit a century-old Chinese medicine shop to learn about Chinese herbs, painting your own oiled-paper umbrella, or enjoying a Southern Song Dynasty Snacks Banquet in a pavilion.
Days 8–10: Guilin
Guilin is a city where you can see pastoral landscapes and enjoy the relaxing pace of countryside life.
You would spend one day on a leisurely Li River Cruise to take in some of the best of Guilin's celebrated karst landscape.
The other two days are given to Yangshuo, a much-loved town near Guilin. It's a place where you can cycle around the paddy fields and pointy hills with your children, walk the field paths with your partner, and talk with friendly local people.
If your kids like adventure, we can arrange to explore a less-traveled cave and many more exciting activities.
Days 11–12: Zhangjiajie
Spend two days to explore the highlight of Zhangjiajie, the National Forest Park. The iconic sandstone pillar is the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. Ride the Bailong Elevator to the top for panoramic views.
Take a cable car ride up to Tianmen Mountain, known as the "Heaven's Gate Mountain." Walk along the glass skywalk and experience breathtaking views.
You could also enjoy a leisurely walk along a crystal-clear stream, surrounded by lush vegetation and towering sandstone cliffs.
Days 13–15: Xi'an
Xi'an's main attraction is the Terracotta Warriors. Besides a regular visit, we would arrange a hand-made clay-warrior experience with local artisans. You would better understand the process of making the Terracotta Warriors and could take your creation home as a souvenir. It's recommended for both couples and families.
Days 16–17: Datong
The highlights of Datong are the Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery. By visiting these attractions, you could learn about elements of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism and see many superb craftsmanship.
Days 18–21: Beijing
With 4 days in Beijing, you can spend one day on the Great Wall. We recommend the Mutianyu Great Wall section, which is the most family-friendly one and a less-crowded section. If you like hiking, we can also arrange some Great Wall hiking for you.
A sunset visit to the Great Wall would allow you to see and snap postcard-perfect dusky Wall views. There would also be fewer people around at this time. This is especially recommended if you want to have a romantic moment with your partner.
Two days would be for Beijing's city-sightseeing highlights, including the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, etc.
If you want to experience the bustling (or leisurely retired) life of Beijingers, you could spend a day exploring local culture, perhaps visiting a Beijinger family in the hutongs or walking around a local community with markets and parks.
2. 3 Weeks in China including Tibet
- Days 1–3: Beijing (The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven)
- Days 4–5: Xi'an (the Terracotta Warriors with a related hands-on experience, a food tour, the city wall)
- Days 6–9: Tibet (the Potala Palace, monasteries, and local-life experience)
- Days 10–12: Chengdu with a panda volunteer program
- Days 13–15: Zhangjiajie (the national forest park, mountains, and canyons)
- Days 16–18: Guilin with nearby towns (a cruise, biking, bamboo rafting)
- Days 19–21: Shanghai city sightseeing (or you can also choose to go to Hong Kong)
If you are dreaming of a Tibet tour as part of your China trip, you could consider this itinerary.
A classic Tibet tour (Lhasa + Lake Yamdrok) takes about 4 to 5 days. If you want to go to Everest Base Camp, you would need another 4 days.
In Tibet, the Potala Palace is a must. Our guide would take you to the four best angles to see the palace.
Barkhor Street is the best place to see devout Buddhists praying and catch a glimpse of the buzz of local Tibetan life.
For a deeper understanding of local rural life, you could be a Tibetan Nomad for a day. We would take you to a village in the hills to experience horse riding, milking yaks, printing prayer flags, and other things that the nomads do.
All our tours are customizable and can be adjusted based on your needs. Just contact us.
3. A 3-Week China Itinerary including Yunnan
- Days 1–3: Shanghai sightseeing
- Days 4–12: Yunnan (Erhai Lake, mountains, old towns, ethic culture experiences, lamaseries, a local Tibetan family visit)
- Days 13–14: Chengdu with a panda encounter
- Days 15–16: Xi'an sightseeing
- Days 17–21: Beijing sightseeing
Besides the classic golden-triangle-panda-city combination of Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Shanghai, in this itinerary Yunnan is added in.
Yunnan is a southwestern province with picturesque scenery and diverse local ethnic culture. Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La are its top cities to visit, each taking about 2 to 3 days.
Kunming is known for its stone forest. Dali and Lijiang are famous for a romantic atmosphere and natural views like Erhai Lake, Cangshan Mountain, and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
These places are also best for having a leisurely outdoor family time, whether biking, hiking, or making delicious local cakes at a flower farm.
Shangri-La is best for experiencing Tibetan culture and plateau scenery. There, you could a visit a Tibetan family on a pasture, try on traditional Tibetan dress, and enjoy a starry night with a bonfire on the grassland.
Just contact us if you are interested in the itinerary.
Costs for a 3-Week Tour in China
For a private tour in China, the average cost per day is about US$220–350 per person, including flights/trains within China, 4- or 5-star hotels, lunches, attractions, guides, and private transport.
Thus, a 3-week tour for two people would cost about US$9,500–15,000. A tour for a family of four may cost US$16,000–20,000 (kids under 10 get 30–50% off). These prices do not include international flights.
The peak season times in China are the first week of May (Labor Day holiday), the summer vacation (July to August), and the first week of October (National Day holiday). During these holidays, airfares and hotel prices can double or triple.
If you are planning a trip to China, please book it at least 3 to 6 months in advance for the best deals and availability. We offer a free cancellation policy: you'll receive a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights if you cancel up to three weeks before departure. (See more details.)
How to Travel around China
Air travel and high-speed rail are the main convenient ways to travel long distances in China.
For most travel between cities, air travel is the most recommended option, such as Beijing to Shanghai, Chengdu to Lhasa, etc.
But for some relatively close cities, such as Beijing to Xi'an, high-speed trains are more recommended. Moreover, China's high-speed rail itself is part of the Chinese travel experience.
When booking with us, let us know your travel preferences, and we will arrange the best travel options for you, seamlessly booking the flight/train tickets you need.
Tour China with Us
All our tours can be customized based on your interests and needs. You can use our Create My Trip service to tell us your requirements. Our travel consultant will listen to and answer your inquiries carefully and promptly and prepare the best tour plan for you.