12-Day China Essence Tour: Ancient Capitals, Pandas, Karst & Modern Metropolises

Group Size Discounts Available. The more travelers in your group, the bigger the savings you’ll get with our travel agency. Contact us now for more details.

This 12-day journey takes you across five major geographic and cultural regions of China—North China, Northwest China, Southwest China, South China and East China—covering a vast land area that accounts for nearly one-third of the country’s total territory.

You’ll visit five iconic, representative cities: Beijing (the imperial capital steeped in time-honored history), Xi’an (the ancient capital of multiple dynasties with world-famous Terracotta Army), Chengdu (the heart of Bashu culture, where you can meet lovely giant pandas and savor spicy Sichuan flavors), Guilin (boasting breathtaking karst mountains and clear rivers that paint a living Chinese ink painting), and Shanghai (a dynamic metropolis blending classic shikumen lanes and modern skyscrapers).

In just 12 days, you’ll experience the essence of one-third of China—from royal heritage and ancient civilizations to stunning natural landscapes, unique local cultures and diverse culinary delights. It’s an incredibly cost-effective trip that packs the best of China into an unforgettable adventure!

12-Day Private Tour of Beijing – Xi’an— Chengdu —Guilin— Shanghai

Tour Type: Private Tour

Guide: Professional English-speaking tour guide in each city

Transportation: Spacious air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver. We can offer an MPV if the group size is bigger.

Accommodation: 11 nights at good 4-star hotels. (5-star hotels option is also available,please contact us for  more details)

Meals: 3 Meals a day with local signature dishes.  We consider food plays a SIGNIFICANT  role while you stay in China.

Trip Highlights and Must-see sights in China

• The Mutianyu Great Wall, The Forbidden City.
• Family visit to meet local people and experience authentic Chinese culture:  Chinese calligraphy
• Teeth cleaning or Free foot message at your choice without extra cost
• Terracotta Warriors, Bell Tower, Ancient City Wall
• Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show
• Visit World’s largest Panda Breeding & Research Center
• Taste the authentic Hot and Spicy Sichuan Hot Pot
• Iconic karst landscapes
• Li River cruises
• Longji Terraced Fields
• Enjoy the stunning views from The Bund
• Enjoy authentic Chinese Food : Peking Duck, Zhajiang Noodles, Rougamo/Chinese Burgers, Pita Bread Soaked in Lamb Soup, Xiaolongbao/Soup Dumplings, Hot Pot, Braised Pork Belly, Canton Dim sum, Western Style breakfast and MORE and MORE, we GUARANTEE  that you will taste definitely more than 100 different kinds of food during you stay in China.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Beijing

Welcome your arrival anytime at the airport and transfer to hotel.

Day 2 Beijing

Visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City; enjoy an a la carte welcome lunch with authentic Peking Duck; continue to visit Temple of Heaven; and Olympic Landmarks Visit; Copper Pot Hot Pot for the dinner plus FOOD CHALLENGE

Day 3 Beijing

Visit Mutianyu Great Wall by a cable car ride plus The Luge (slideway) . Northeastern Cuisine plus Charcoal-grilled skewers (Chinese version of BBQ) for the Lunch. Chinese Culture Experience: Brush Calligraphy. Free teeth cleaning or foot massage at your choice. Fusion food for the dinner plus BO’S FOOD CHALLENGE.

Day 4 Beijing to Xi’an by Bullet Train

Visit Yonghe Temple,Hutong Tour, Xinjiang Cuisine for the lunch, Food Challenge Of the Day; take bullet train to Xi’an and transfer to hotel.

Day 5 Xi’an

Visit Terracotta Army and the discoverer’s home of the first terracotta warrior; have a A Grand Feast of Shaanxi Noodles for your lunch; continue to visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda & Xi’an Drum Tower and then enjoy dumpling dinner and Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show in the evening.

Day 6 Xi’an – Chengdu

Ancient City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and north square, High speed train to Chengdu

Visit the Ancient City Wall, which represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. You may choose to ride a bicycle on the wall to go around.  After that, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It’s the landmark building of Xi’an and symbol of China ancient capital and you will also have chance to watch the North plaza fountain show. After lunch, drive to Xi’an North Railway Station. Take a 4hrs high speed train to Chengdu. Your Chengdu tour guide will wait for you at the station and help you to transfer to the hotel.

Day 7 Chengdu

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu People’s Park, Kuan Zhai Alley

In the morning, visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding which is about 10 km from Chengdu downtown. This beautifully laid out park is the home of about 80 giant pandas and some other rare animals, such as red panda, black-necked crane, white crane ect. Walking along the excellently designed walkways, you could have a good angle through the open enclosures of giant pandas. The best time to visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the morning when the pandas are most active in the day. Depart from hotel early in the morning, and arrive at the center before 09:00 am, then you could have chance to see the pandas feeding at around 09:30 am. After the feeding time, you could choose to visit Panda Museum and watch a 20-minute video at Panda Theater to learn about the research and breeding of the giant pandas. Then walk along the walkways to watch pandas or other rare animals. Besides, you could also choose to deliver a postcard or other panda souvenir from the Panda Post to yourself or your family and friends. The Panda Post is the only post office who has its own post code 610088 and post date mark.

For lunch, you’ll dine at a well-known local authentic Sichuan restaurant, with options ranging from fiery spicy dishes to mild, non-spicy ones.

In the afternoon, headed to the Chengdu People’s Park, where you will find many locals dancing, doing exercise, playing card, playing Mahjong, ear-picking, marriage seeking ect in the park. They enjoy the leisure time in the park. If you are interested in, you could try to join in them.
We will take a seat in a tea house, having a cup of tea to feel the local’s leisure life.

After that we will show your way to walk around the famous Kuan Zhai Alley which consists of several ancient streets of Ming and Qing Dynasty. We will have a stop at a Chinese style Starbucks where you could have a cup of coffee to enjoy the leisure afternoon.

Day 8 Chengdu -Guilin

Wuhou Temple, Jinli Ancient Street, Fly to Guilin

Visit to Wuhou Temple. It the largest existing museum of the Three Kingdoms Period, and a very quiet oasis in the city. Then walk around Jinli Ancient Street neighboring to Wuhou Temple.

You will enjoy the most authentic Sichuan Hot Pot for lunch, at a distinctive local eatery right in Chengdu.

In the afternoon, you will be transferred to airport to take a flight to Guilin, where the local guide will meet you and transfer you check in hotel.

Day 9 Guilin

Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo, West Street, Yangshuo countryside tour

Enjoy Li River Cruise tour with buffet lunch on board. Deluxe cruise will be arranged with decent facility and good service. Savor the fairy-tale scenery while cruising down the meandering river to Yangshuo. You can go on the sundeck or just sit and appreciate the picturesque scenery from the window. After disembarking, walk through the West Street or take sightseeing car to the parking lot. In the afternoon, you will have biking tour in Yangshuo countryside and riding at Yulong river side leisurely and appreciate the clear river with countless hills surrounded.

Day 10 Guilin – Shanghai
Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Fly to Shanghai

Visit Reed Flute Cave which is a famous scenic spot offering a magic fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites in fantastic shapes and colors. Then transfer to hotel for check out before A La Carte Lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. After a break at noon time, drive to Elephant Trunk Hill, the badge of Guilin city. The hill looks exactly like a huge elephant stretching its trunk drinking water of the Li River. Then have a leisure walk along the Shanhu Lake and Ronghu Lake.

In the afternoon, drive to Guilin airport directly to take a night flight for Shanghai. The local Shanghai guide is waiting for you at the exit of the airport, meeting your and tranfering you to check in hotel.

Day 11 Shanghai

Shikumen, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Lujiazui CBD, Shanghai Tower.

Walk into the Shikumen, the old alley with old buildings,  a blend of Western and Chinese traditional culture, where the local residents still live there. Enjoy orientation walk on the Bund which was a foreign trade center from the late 19th century. Then continue a visit to Yuyuan Garden, a traditional Chinese garden in Shanghai downtown.

Enjoy your lunch at a local popular restaurant, waste the famous signature dish: Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao).

In the afternoon, visit Jade Buddha Temple. Then Reach to the Lujiazui CBD new area and enjoy your leisure time on the Riverside Promenade. Have a cup of coffee and take a short break. In conclusion, visit Shanghai Tower which is the city skyline and Shanghai tallest building. Enjoy your Top of Shanghai journey and panoramic view of Shanghai city.

Day 12 Departure Shanghai

Free day at leisure and be transferred to the airport for return flight. We can arrange the Maglev train ride to Pudong airport if you are interested in, or we will drive you directly to the airport.
 

Silk Road Voyages — Tour Package

Min. 2 pax per booking.

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between airport/railway station, attractions and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast (twin share basis)
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ 3 Meals a day, authentic Chinese local food

Price excludes:

♦ International air tickets or train tickets to/from China
♦ Tips for guide and driver (at your discretion)
♦ China entry visa fees
♦ Personal expenses
♦ Optional tours, meals, activities and services
♦ China life tourist accident/casualty insurance

About Silk Road Voyages

At Silk Road Voyages, we offer more than just tours—we deliver authentic, worry-free travel experiences designed with care and local insight. With over 15 years of living and working abroad, our founder understands exactly what international travelers need when visiting China.

All our private and small-group tours come fully inclusive: daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring genuine local Chinese cuisine, plus comfortable 4-star hotel accommodations throughout your trip. We provide private transfers, licensed English-speaking guides, and private drivers for maximum comfort and flexibility.

Our tours are no hidden fees, no forced shopping, no rushed schedules. We focus on quality, privacy, and real cultural experiences, so you can explore China at your own pace, safely and comfortably.

Discover China the way it should be traveled—with a local who truly cares.