Destinations: Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Shanghai
Inter-city Transportation:
Beijing → Xi'an: High-speed Rail (~4.5h)
Xi'an → Guilin: Domestic Direct Flight (~2h 10mins)
Guilin → Shanghai: Domestic Direct Flight (~2h 20mins)
Standard Service: Exclusive English-speaking tour guide, private chauffeur, 4/5-star international hotels, daily authentic regional Chinese cuisine, all scenic spot tickets included, no forced shopping
Core Characteristics of the 9-Day Route
Perfect Progressive Theme: Ancient Civilization → Natural Landscape → Modern Metropolis
The itinerary follows a clear artistic rhythm: start with northern imperial royal history (Beijing) → ancient Qin-Tang civilization (Xi'an) → south China poetic karst natural scenery (Guilin) → modern international fashionable metropolis (Shanghai). Tourists can fully perceive the multi-dimensional charm of China: history, nature and modern development, with strong visual and emotional contrast.
Reasonable Time Allocation, No Tired Rush
Beijing (3 days) for deep imperial culture sightseeing; Xi'an (2 days) for ancient capital relics; Guilin (2 days) for slow-paced landscape leisure; Shanghai (2 days) for urban experience. Inter-city flights/high-speed trains are arranged between cities without occupying prime daytime sightseeing hours, suitable for foreign tourists adapting to jet lag and walking intensity, balancing sightseeing and rest.
Diversified Experience Mix: World Heritage + Nature + Folk Custom + Cuisine + Urban Fashion
Not only covers numerous UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites, but also integrates natural mountain water scenery, rural pastoral life, ethnic customs, regional food culture and international city shopping & leisure; avoid monotonous scenic spot checking, rich and varied travel experience.
Convenient Cross-City Transportation for International Travelers
High-speed rail between Beijing and Xi’an for comfortable land travel experience; short direct flights between Xi’an-Guilin, Guilin-Shanghai greatly cut transit time, save physical strength. Full-time English guide solves all language barriers throughout the journey.
Four Regional Cuisine Tasting Across North, Northwest, South China & Jiangnan
Cover 4 totally different food systems: Beijing northern flavor, Xi’an Northwest halal snacks, Guilin Guangxi rice noodles & bamboo food, Shanghai delicate Jiangnan sweet cuisine, fully taste China’s vast food culture.
Route Highlights
1. Cover Top Classic Landmarks & World Heritage Attractions
Beijing: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven (3 UNESCO World Heritages)
Xi'an: Terracotta Army, Xi'an Ancient City Wall (Famous Global Archaeological & Historical Landmarks)
Guilin: Li River Karst Landscape (World Natural Heritage, Chinese ink painting scenery represented on Chinese currency)
Shanghai: The Bund, Lujiazui Skyline (Iconic symbols of modern China)
2. Dual Experience: Grand Historical Civilization & Poetic Natural Scenery
Tour the magnificent imperial palaces, thousands-year-old terracotta warriors and ancient city walls carrying Chinese thousands-year history; then immerse yourself in the fairyland-like karst peaks, winding rivers and pastoral countryside of Guilin, which is the most representative aesthetic characteristic of traditional Chinese landscape art, extremely impressive for western visitors.
3. Strong Ancient-Modern Visual Contrast
From red-wall imperial palaces, rugged Great Wall, earthen terracotta warriors and ancient ramparts, to green mountains and clear rivers in southern China, finally step into skyscraper clusters, international shopping avenues and neon waterfront of Shanghai. The huge span between ancient times and contemporary China brings unforgettable travel memories.
4. Immersive Local Life & Folk Culture Experience
Watch Tai Chi in Beijing parks, cycle on Xi'an ancient wall, wander Muslim food streets, bamboo raft drifting in Yangshuo countryside, explore old lanes and waterfront night views in Shanghai; deeply contact ordinary Chinese people’s daily life rather than merely superficial sightseeing.
5. Internationalized Tour Service Suitable for Overseas Guests
All hotels adopt international brand standards; English interpretation throughout the whole trip; flexible adjustable itinerary; widely supported credit card payment; detailed tips about Chinese customs, etiquette and transportation provided, zero travel obstacles for foreign tourists.
All Day: Arrive at Beijing Capital/Daxing International Airport. Meet personal guide & driver, transfer to downtown hotel (near Wangfujing/Qianmen) to settle down and overcome jet lag.
Evening: Leisure stroll at Qianmen Ancient Street & Wangfujing Pedestrian Street. Taste classic Beijing snacks: candied hawthorn, soybean curd, fried dough twists. Feel the fusion of traditional folk commerce and modern city vibe.
Overnight: Beijing
Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall Full-Day Trip (World Natural & Cultural Heritage)
Morning & Afternoon: Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall (the most visitor-friendly section for overseas tourists: less crowded, lush woodland scenery, equipped with cable car and downhill toboggan for relaxed hiking). Walk along the ancient ramparts, admire rolling mountain landscapes, listen to guide’s explanation of ancient military defense culture.
Evening: Return to downtown; enjoy authentic Peking Roast Duck Feast. Optional walk around Houhai Lake to witness local Beijing residents' leisure life.
Overnight: Beijing
Day 3: Beijing Imperial Core Attractions → Take High-Speed Rail to Xi'an
Morning: Tiananmen Square (World's Largest Urban Square) → Forbidden City (Palace Museum). Explore the 500-year imperial palace of Ming & Qing dynasties, appreciate grand royal architecture, precious ancient art collections and court rituals. Afterwards climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic overlook of the entire Forbidden City.
Afternoon: Visit Temple of Heaven, the sacred site where emperors held sacrificial ceremonies to pray for bumper harvests. Watch locals practicing Tai Chi and square dancing to experience authentic northern daily life.
Evening: Board high-speed train from Beijing West Railway Station to Xi'an North Station. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel inside Xi’an Ancient City Wall.
Overnight: Xi'an
Day 4: Xi'an Terracotta Army & Tang Dynasty Night Scenery
Morning: Full-day tour to Qin Terracotta Warriors & Horses Museum (UNESCO World Heritage). Visit 3 excavation pits and Bronze Chariot Exhibition Hall, marvel at the lifelike clay soldiers with unique facial features, learn about China's first unified feudal empire over 2,200 years ago.
Afternoon: Visit Shaanxi History Museum, showcasing 3,000 years of Chinese civilization with abundant Tang Dynasty cultural relics.
Evening: Wander Muslim Quarter Food Street to taste Northwest snacks (roujiamo, cold noodles, lamb soup); stroll Datang Everbright City to immerse yourself in the prosperous night view of Tang Dynasty capital and watch traditional folk performances.
Overnight: Xi'an
Day 5: Xi'an Ancient City Wall → Fly to Guilin
Morning: Cycle on the Xi'an Ancient City Wall (China's best-preserved complete ancient city wall), contrast the time-honored rampart with modern urban scenery below; visit Bell & Drum Towers at the city center.
Noon: Local Xi'an characteristic lunch
Afternoon: Transfer to Xi'an Xianyang Airport, take direct flight to Guilin Liangjiang Airport. Check into downtown hotel overlooking karst peaks.
Evening: Cruise on Two Rivers & Four Lakes to enjoy lit karst mountains, pagodas and water reflections at night — classic Guilin landscape night view.
Overnight: Guilin
Day 6: Li River Cruise (Ink-Wash Painting Landscape) + Yangshuo Leisure
Morning: Board deluxe cruise ship for Li River downstream cruise (Yangdi-Xingping Section) — the core essence of Guilin scenery. Pass iconic spots: Nine Horses Mountain, Yellow Cloth Shoal (20 RMB Chinese banknote background landscape).
Afternoon: Disembark at Xingping Ancient Town; take electric bike to cycle along Yulong River countryside, appreciate pastoral karst scenery, rice fields and villages.
Evening: Wander West Street in Yangshuo, enjoy folk music and local rice noodles dinner.
Overnight: Yangshuo Boutique Mountain-view Hotel
Day 7: Yangshuo Countryside Experience → Fly to Shanghai
Morning: Bamboo raft drifting on Yulong River (no motor boats, peaceful pastoral experience); visit Moon Hill and Big Banyan Tree, relax in natural countryside scenery.
Noon: Farmhouse lunch featuring bamboo chicken, rice noodles and local wild vegetables.
Afternoon: Transfer back to Guilin Airport, take flight to Shanghai. Check into hotel near the Bund/Nanjing Road.
Evening: Free time to admire the Bund neon night view casually.
Overnight: Shanghai
Day 8: Shanghai Old & Modern Contrast Sightseeing
Morning: Visit Yu Garden & City God Temple. Wander classical Jiangnan private garden and traditional old street, buy Chinese silk, tea, handicrafts as souvenirs; taste Shanghai signature soup dumplings.
Afternoon: Walk along The Bund (hundreds of European classical buildings along Huangpu River); take ferry across Huangpu River to Lujiazui Financial District, overlook Shanghai skyline from Oriental Pearl Tower/Shanghai Tower.
Evening: Huangpu River Night Cruise, enjoy gorgeous urban waterfront night scenery.
Overnight: Shanghai
Day 9: Shanghai Shopping & Leisure → Departure
Morning: Stroll Nanjing Road Commercial Street (China's busiest shopping avenue); optional visit Former French Concession to appreciate elegant European villas and literary streets.
Noon: Delicate Shanghai local cuisine lunch.
Afternoon: Transfer to Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao International Airport according to flight schedule, conclude the whole China cultural & landscape tour.
