We Love —
- Exploring China, a fascinating land of contrasts where ancient traditions meet modern dynamism.
- Discovering the Great Wall and countless UNESCO World Heritage sites along the way, including the Terracotta Army of Xi’an, the West Lake in Hangzhou, and the ancient town of Pingyao.
- Extending our trip with an optional visit to the spectacular Yellow Mountains (Huangshan), a true paradise for photographers and nature lovers.
New Voyage Privé —
Carefully selected by our experts especially for you
This tour is ideal for a first encounter with the Middle Kingdom, offering you a rich insight into the many facets of this fascinating civilisation, while optimising travel across a country where distances can be vast and choices overwhelming. The city of Hangzhou, close to Shanghai, is particularly captivating for its wealth of cultural heritage, and by choosing the Huangshan extension, you will discover one of the most breathtaking views in all of China...
Your itinerary in brief —
Embark on a journey to discover the splendour of China. On this 12 or 14 night tour across the country, you will immerse yourself in the rich culture and remarkable history of this extraordinary nation. Accompanied by an experienced guide, you will explore the iconic cities of Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing, each offering its own unique charm and fascinating historical sites.
You will also have the opportunity to marvel at the breathtaking natural beauty of the Huangshan Mountains, famed for their dramatic peaks and mystical cloud formations.
Choose the length of your stay:
12 night tour
- Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai
- Days 2–3: Shanghai
- Day 4: Shanghai – Hangzhou
- Day 5: Hangzhou
- Day 6: Hangzhou – Xi’an
- Days 7–8: Xi’an
- Day 9: Xi’an – Pingyao
- Day 10: Pingyao – Beijing
- Days 11–12: Beijing
- Day 13: Departure from Beijing
14 night tour
- Days 1-5: Same as 12 night tour
- Day 6: Hangzhou – Tunxi (Huangshan region)
- Day 7: Tunxi – Bishan Village
- Day 8: Bishan Village – Xi’an
- Days 9–10: Xi’an
- Day 11: Xi’an – Pingyao
- Day 12: Pingyao – Beijing
- Days 13–14: Beijing
- Day 15: Departure from Beijing
Please note: your itinerary may have minor adjustments, but your overall trip experience will remain the same.
Your itinerary in detail —
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN SHANGHAI
Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be welcomed by your driver (without guide) and transferred to your hotel.
- Night at Golden Tulip Rainbow 4* (also known as Hong Qiao Hotel 4*)
DAYS 2: SHANGHAI
After breakfast at your hotel, start the day with a visit to the Yu Garden, a masterpiece of artistic refinement, followed by a stroll through the Old City. In the afternoon, visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, which showcases the city’s urban development, followed by a silk workshop. Explore the former French Concession and take a walk along the Bund.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Golden Tulip Rainbow 4*
DAYS 3: SHANGHAI
Enjoy a day in Shanghai at your own pace or opt for the day trip to Suzhou (at an extra cost).
- Breakfast included
- Night at Golden Tulip Rainbow 4*
DAY 4: SHANGHAI – HANGZHOU
In the morning, meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to the train station for your high-speed train to Hangzhou (approx. 1 hour). Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred into the city.
Visit the Former Residence of Hu Xueyan, a famous Qing dynasty merchant and philanthropist known for his contributions to Chinese medicine and banking. Then explore the Huqing Yutang Pharmacy, a well-preserved site showcasing ancient Chinese herbal medicine practices.
Take a stroll through the Hefang Street area, located at the northern foot of Wu Shan Hill, bustling with shops, restaurants, and tea houses. This area was historically the political, cultural, and commercial centre of Hangzhou.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Xingdu Hotel 4*
DAY 5: HANGZHOU
After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy this day at leisure or opt for a day exploring Hangzhou (at an extra cost).
- Breakfast included
- Night at Xingdu Hotel 4*
DAY 6: HANGZHOU – XI’AN
In the morning, meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi’an (approx. 2h30). Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your local guide and transferred to the city, where you can visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an Museum.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel 4*
DAY 7: XI’AN
Today, visit the Terracotta Army, comprising over 6,000 life-sized warriors and infantry, guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Explore the three main pits and admire thousands of statues seemingly frozen in time. The exhibition halls also display an impressive collection of precious objects, including a remarkable bronze chariot.
Return to Xi’an city and visit a jade workshop. Stroll through the Muslim Quarter and visit the Great Mosque, an example of traditional Chinese-style architecture set in a beautiful square courtyard.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel 4*
DAY 8: XI’AN
Enjoy a free day to relax or opt for a full-day excursion (at an extra cost).
- Breakfast included
- Night at Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel 4*
DAY 9: XI’AN – PINGYAO
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to the train station for your high-speed train to Pingyao (approx. 3 hours). Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your traditional inn, set around a charming courtyard in an old-style house.
In the afternoon, explore Pingyao Old Town. Take a walk along the ancient city walls for a panoramic view, stroll through streets lined with traditional shops and houses, and visit the Rishengchang Bank, one of the city’s historic financial institutions.
Continue to the Qingxuguan Taoist Temple, the region’s most important sanctuary, which also houses the Pingyao Museum.
- Breakfast included
- Night in a traditional inn
DAY 10: PINGYAO – BEIJING
After breakfast, continue exploring the old town with your guide in the morning. In the early afternoon, transfer to the train station for your high-speed train to Beijing (approx. 4 hours). Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your driver and transferred to your hotel.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Jinglun Hotel 4*
DAY 11: BEIJING
Today, experience Beijing via its metro system. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby around 8:30 am. Visit the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most iconic monuments. This magnificent structure with its triple-tiered blue-tiled roof symbolises the connection between heaven and earth. Explore the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Circular Mound Altar, and the Echo Wall.
In the surrounding park, locals engage in daily leisure activities—singing, dancing, playing chess, and practising calligraphy on the ground. Don’t miss the "Love Corner", where elderly parents exchange information about their unmarried children.
In the afternoon, visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, an outstanding example of Ming dynasty architecture. Also visit Coal Hill Park, offering panoramic views of the royal palace.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Jinglun Hotel 4*
DAY 12: BEIJING
Meet your guide at 9am for a morning excursion to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, located 80 km north of the city. This is a quieter section of the Wall. Ascend and descend on foot (cable car available on site).
Return to Beijing for a visit to the Summer Palace, the last royal garden of the Qing dynasty. Stop briefly to view the Olympic sites, including the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube, from the outside. Enjoy a Chinese tea tasting and ceremony.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Jinglun Hotel 4*
DAY 13: DEPARTURE FROM BEIJING
After breakfast at your hotel, meet your driver and transfer to the airport for your return flight.
- Breakfast included
14 NIGHT TOUR
DAYS 1-5: Same as 12 night tour.
DAY 6: HANGZHOU – TUNXI (HUANGSHAN REGION)
In the morning, meet your driver at the hotel and transfer to the train station for a high-speed train to Huangshan (approx. 1h30). Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by your local guide.
Visit a tea plantation, as the Huangshan region is famous for three of China’s top ten teas and has a strong tea culture. Enjoy a stroll through the plantation.
Optional activity (payable locally): If visiting between April and October, you may participate in the tea leaf harvest, learn about tea production, and taste different teas.
Visit the Hukaiwen Ink Studio, famous for Huizhou ink, and try your hand at Chinese calligraphy using brush and ink. Finish the day with a stroll through Tunxi Old Town, dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Rezen Select Tunxi Hotel 4*
DAY 7: TUNXI – BISHAN VILLAGE
Travel to the Huangshan Mountains and enjoy the stunning countryside en route. The area is renowned for its dramatic granite peaks, Huangshan pines, hot springs, winter snow, and sea-of-cloud views. Take the cable car up and down the mountain, and enjoy a buffet lunch at the summit.
Transfer to Bishan Village for an overnight stay in a traditional Qing dynasty-style inn. The village is charming and quiet, with narrow streets and well-preserved old buildings.
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Hostel Pig’s Inn
DAY 8: BISHAN VILLAGE – XI’AN
Visit Hongcun Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a glimpse of traditional rural Chinese life. Famous for well-preserved Huizhou-style architecture and picturesque ponds. Continue to Lucun Village, less visited by tourists, known for its wood carvings, and then to Mukeng Village for a stroll through a bamboo forest.
In the late afternoon, transfer to Huangshan Airport for a flight to Xi’an. Upon arrival, meet your Chinese driver and transfer to the hotel.
- Breakfast included
- Night at Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel 4*
DAYS 9–10: XI’AN
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel 4*
DAY 11: XI’AN – PINGYAO
- Breakfast included
- Night in a traditional inn
DAY 12: PINGYAO – BEIJING
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Jinglun Hotel 4*
DAYS 13–14: BEIJING
- Breakfast and lunch included
- Night at Jinglun Hotel 4*
DAY 15: DEPARTURE FROM BEIJING
- Breakfast included
Important information about your tour and visits: The hotels, which comply with local standards, are indicative and may be changed locally for hotels of a similar category. The itinerary is subject to changes due to compelling reasons such as delayed flights, weather conditions or other cases of force majeure. The order of visits is also subject to change without affecting the overall experience of the itinerary.
Your hotels —
Just for you:
Hand-picked just for you
At each of your stops, you will be staying in comfortable rooms in thoughtfully selected 4* hotels.
Your accommodation:
- Shanghai: Golden Tulip Rainbow 4* (or similar)
- Hangzhou: Xingdu Hotel 4* (or similar)
- Tunxi (Huangshan region - 14 night tour): Rezen Select Tunxi Hotel 4* (or similar)
- Bishan Village (14 night tour): Hostel Pig’s Inn (or similar)
- Xi’an: Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel 4* (or similar)
- Pingyao: Traditional inn (or similar)
- Beijing: Jinglun Hotel 4* (or similar)
If the hotels listed above are unavailable, you will be provided with comfortable accommodation in similar hotels. Local standards apply.
Your dining choices
Throughout your tour, you will enjoy meals as per the itinerary.
Included services —
English-speaking guide as per itinerary
Benefit from an English-speaking guide to dive deeper into the history, culture, and hidden stories behind each site you visit.
Optional excursions —
Day 3: Day trip to Suzhou
Suzhou, a city renowned for the production of silk and for its magnificent gardens. It was once considered the residence of mandarins and scholars in imperial China.
In the morning, transfer with your guide to Suzhou, where you will visit the Master of the Nets Garden, one of the finest examples of landscaped gardens in the purest regional tradition.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant in Suzhou, followed by a stroll along Pingjiang Street, in the heart of Suzhou’s old town. The excursion continues with a visit to the ancient town of Tongli, famed for its bridges, canals, and traditional houses.
Return to Shanghai.
Day 5: Explore Hangzhou
In the morning, visit Feilai Peak and the Lingyin Temple. The temple houses Buddhist literature and treasures, including more than 470 stone carvings of Buddhist figures, dating from the 10th to the 14th century.
Lunch is served in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, enjoy a stroll along the West Lake, which covers an area of 6.3 square kilometres and is regarded as a cultural symbol of the city.
Take a public boat ride on the lake, followed by a climb to Leifeng Pagoda, located on the lake’s shore, from where you can enjoy views over the water.
Day 8 or 10 (depending on tour): Explore Xi’an
Visit a park near the Ancient City Walls of Xi’an, where you can meet local residents practising their morning exercises. Then climb up onto the City Walls for a pleasant walk.
(optional bicycle hire available on site at 45 RMB per person).
Continue with a visit to the former residence of the Gao family, where you will enjoy a short performance of traditional shadow puppetry and local opera, known as Qinqiang.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, followed by an introduction to the art of Chinese calligraphy. Afterwards, take a stroll through the stylish and lively districts surrounding the pagoda.
In the evening, enjoy a spectacular Tang Dynasty music and dance show, accompanied by a traditional dumpling banquet.
Included extras —
1 x 10GB SIM card
Stay connected on the move with this exclusive mobile internet offer, perfect for modern travellers. Activate your included SIM card and enjoy connection wherever you go.
Your journey to China —
Flights:
You will be able to choose your airline and flight times when you make your booking, in either Economy, Premium, or Business class, depending on the destination and carrier. This flight may include one or more stopovers. Please review your flight options carefully as departure and arrival airports may differ, in order to offer the best price.
Luggage information
Luggage, meals and other services on board may be subject to an additional fee on certain airlines. It is possible to view details of luggage allowances when you choose your flights at the next stage of the booking process. If luggage is not included with your flight, please go to the airline's website before your departure to purchase your luggage for an additional fee.
For domestic flights, airlines do not always offer the option of reserving luggage. In this case, you will need to pay for it at the airport counter.
You will receive all the information you need to check in for your flights after you have made your reservation.
Your destination —
China
Welcome to China
Explore the iconic Great Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, winding majestically across diverse landscapes, offering breathtaking views and a glimpse into China's rich history. Immerse yourself in the imperial grandeur of the Forbidden City in Beijing, adorned with intricate architecture and imperial gardens. Discover the vibrant cityscape of Shanghai, where futuristic skyscrapers contrast with historic neighbourhoods, creating a dynamic urban tapestry.
Must-sees:
- Walking the Great Wall as it snakes across dramatic ridges
- Exploring the Forbidden City’s grand courtyards in Beijing
- Cruising the Li River through surreal limestone karsts in Guangxi
- Gazing at the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an
- Admiring pandas at the research centres in Chengdu
Culinary culture:
Food in China is as diverse as its geography. In Sichuan, expect bold flavours, fiery chilli and numbing peppercorns. Cantonese cuisine highlights delicate dim sum and fresh seafood. Beijing is famed for its crisp-skinned Peking duck, while noodles, dumplings and regional street snacks offer everyday comfort. Eating here is as much about sharing as it is about flavour - gathered around a table, meals are a window into culture and community.
Dive deeper:
Beyond its iconic landmarks, China reveals quieter wonders. Explore ancient water towns south of the Yangtze, where stone bridges arch over narrow canals. In Yunnan, Tibetan influences echo through highland monasteries, while in Gansu, the Silk Road caves preserve centuries of devotion.
Festivals add vivid colour: the Chinese New Year in February fills the country with dragon dances, lanterns and fireworks; the Dragon Boat Festival in June brings thrilling boat races and zongzi rice dumplings; and the Mid-Autumn Festival in September lights the night with lanterns and mooncakes, a poetic celebration of family and tradition.
Good to know:
The currency is the yuan (RMB). High-speed trains connect most major cities, making travel swift and easy. Autumn (September–October) and spring (April–May) offer the most comfortable weather.
