Meet Panda and Discover the Real China
You can get rich cultural experiences with the 12-day China tour. Hong Kong is known for its vibrant city life and stunning skyline, while Guilin is famous for its picturesque karst mountains and the Li River. Chengdu is renowned for its giant pandas and delicious Sichuan cuisine. Beijing and Xi'an boast iconic landmarks like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Terracotta Army.
The itinerary below is only one possibility. Tips to tailor-make your trip are offered as inspiration. Send us details of your preferences and our travel experts will customize this trip to suit your interests, tastes, and budget.
Suggested 12-Day China Tour
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| 1-2 Hong Kong |
Free and Leisure |
| 3-4 Guilin |
Li River Cruise, countryside biking, and making rice cake |
| 5-6 Chengdu |
Get close to the pandas and interact with local people |
| 7-8 Xian |
Terracotta Warriors and Traditional Handicraft |
| 9-12 Beijing |
Forbidden City and Great Wall |
Tour Map
Tour 'Wow' Points
Say Hello to the Cute Pandas
Go to the Panda Breeding and Research Center early in the morning to see the pandas' adorable appearance during feeding time. Visitors can observe pandas in a semi-natural habitat and learn about conservation efforts.
Making Traditional Rice Cake at A Picturesque Village
Glutinous rice cake with mugwort is a special pastry popular in South China. You will visit a traditional village, and learn to make glutinous rice cake with the help of the villagers.
Create Traditional Handicrafts as Souvenirs
Visit the ancient Cultural Street of Shuyuanmen, make traditional handicrafts with the help of artisans, and then take them home.
Leisurely Cruising Through the Breathtaking Karst Scenery
Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, you can expect to see picturesque scenery with lush greenery, bamboo forests, and local villages along the riverbanks.
Biking Through the Picturesque Countryside
Biking in the breathtakingly beautiful scenery slows you down, with karst peaks, rice fields, clear waters, and green bamboo.
Witness the Ancient Army of the First Emperor of China
Our skilled tour guides will provide you with engaging and informative explanations that deepen your understanding of the history and culture associated with the Terracotta Warriors.
Hike the Most Beautiful and Interesting Part of the Great Wall
The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is well-preserved, less crowded than others, and offers stunning views with its stunning mountainous backdrop and picturesque surroundings.
Explore Beyond the Usual Forbidden City Sightseeing Path
Your tour guide will help you explore 12 carefully selected places in the Forbidden City, while other group tours often visit only 6-8 spots briefly. You will visit some extra spots related to famous figures.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
|
Amazing and Effortless Experience Overall!
China Highlights is totally legit and they planned our visit in Beijing perfectly, they were also great with being flexible to meet our unique needs and timelines, with multiple changes on the fly. Our guide in Beijing, William, was amazing as well! William was friendly, kind, thoughtful, funny, and also was great at keeping us on track timing-wise (as we didn’t make this particularly easy for him lol). Cannot recommend both China Highlights and William to anyone else looking to visit China for the first time! more
Jun 2025, jamesrkable
|
A culture of hospitality and smiles
Beijing was prettier and far less crowded than anticipated. Colin aka Po Po, our guide, enhanced the experience with his knowledge and wicked sense of humour. He made every moment special for us.We spent about three days in Beijing and surrounds. China highlights offerings were high quality, including accomodation, car, driver, guide and selection of real local restaurants. Being vegetarian wasn’t an issue at all. Visiting historical quarter of Beijing along with Hutong walk and Confucius Beijing temple were unique experiences- which became more special with Colin’s interest in philosophy and wonderful global perspective. Despite language barriers- we were greeted by scores of locals with genuine smile and curiosity. We shall be back (hopefully with Colin) to explore this wonderful culture. more
Jun 2025, Inderjeet
|
Beijing group tour
We had a group tour for our clients and William was our guide. He was knowledgeable, kind and flexible throughout the tour. Our clients loved the way he explained diverse topics. We would recommend him for our future groups too.Thank you William and God bless! more
Jun 2025, Prima Rodrigues
|
Suggested Itinerary
Your preferences design the real journey. We're ready to create a wonderful private China tour for you.
After arrival at Hong Kong airport, your guide will meet you to check-in at your hotel and have some time on your own to relax or explore near your hotel.
Enjoy a free day in Hong Kong to do some shopping or sightseeing. Hong Kong is a heaven for shoppers, high-end fashion, funky styles, and other choices are around every corner.
Most of the famous attractions are close to the city center, such as Victoria Peak, Avenue of Stars, and Wong Tai Sin Temple. They are easy to access with the public transportation.
Later in the morning, you'll board the high-speed bullet train to Guilin, completing the journey in just 3 hours.
You will cruise downstream from Guilin to Yangshuo, to see the picturesque landscape. Bamboo groves, jagged, sharp-edged hills like broken teeth, a wide placid river, and peaceful farm and village terrain. During cloudy days, the hills are surrounded by mist and tourists may feel they are cruising in a mystical paradise.
This afternoon, go to a traditional village and learn to make glutinous rice cake with the help of the villagers.
Yangshuo's countryside is known for its idyllic scenery, and oddly-shaped hills thrusting to the sky. Your guide will show you around the countryside with the rice paddies and the mountains during the 1-hour biking.
You will be taken back to Guilin for your train to Chengdu. Transfer to your hotel and rest for the day.
Spend a whole morning with giant pandas at Panda Breeding and Research Center. Visit the nursery to see the highly successful breeding program, among the bamboo groves and shady walkways, and to view the pandas at rest or play
The People's Park is a spiritual haven for the city's citizens amidst the bustle of downtown. Take a seat and sip a cup of tea at a tea house, then visit the marriage market, and join Square dancing.
See old Chengdu and experience the traditional lifestyle at Kuan-zhai Lane.
The Wenshu Monastery is still an active Buddhist temple where you can see both practicing monks and worshiping locals. Surrounded by the green garden you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in silent surroundings.
Visit a Rice Wine Museum which has kept brewing for over 600 years without interruption. and taste a glass of wine.
Have lunch at a popular Sichuan hot pot restaurant before taking the train to Xi'an.
Discovered accidentally in 1974, the terracotta army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults.
The ancient city wall is a major landmark, the best preserved, and the oldest and largest city defense system in China. You can ride a bike on the wall.
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, also known as Dayan Pagoda, was built to house and protect Buddhist scriptures and relics brought back from India by the famous monk Xuanzang. It is a significant example of ancient Chinese architecture.
Visit artisans and make your traditional handicrafts at the ancient cultural street of Shuyuanmen. Choose one among paper cutting, rubbing, weaving Chinese knots, and shadow play.
After your Xian tour, you will take the Bullet train to Beijing.
Carry on your trip with more Beijing tour highlights, beginning with Tian'anmen Square, which is the largest city square in the world and can hold about one million people for public celebrations or gatherings.
Then visit the Forbidden City. Your tour guide will help you explore 12 carefully-selected places in the Forbidden City, while other group tours often visit only 6-8 spots briefly. You will learn some background on the city's architecture, history, fengshui and art.
After lunch, you will visit the Summer Palace and take a relaxing boat trip on Kunming Lake.
You will explore more of Beijing today: Temple of Heaven, which is seen as the most impressive imperial temple.
After lunch, visit the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall. The section is known for its well-preserved condition and beautiful scenery. At the Wall, you have 2-hour free time to walk around, after your guide does some introductions. Round-way cable car would be arranged for you to save time and energy.
Time to say Goodbye. Your Beijing tour guide will see you off at the airport. Thank you for exploring China with us. Hope to see you again!
Hotel Selection
—the Icing on the Cake
Boutique hotels are recommended to enrich your travel experience.
Tour Price
Price includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English-speaking local guide
- Activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary
- Flights/trains between itinerary cities
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour Code: cht-hk-3