11-Day Small-Group China Tour: Beijing, Xi'an, Yangtze Cruise and Shanghai
Overview
Available languages
264 hours
Mobile ticket
This 11-day China small group tour is a collection of highlight cities - Beijing, the capital city for several dynasties; Xi'an - the starting point of the world-renowned Silk Road; Shanghai, an international modern metropolis; and the most importantly, the three Gorges Dam, the 'cross-the-century' project and the Yangtze River cruise, just as classical as it sounds.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
NO shopping detours, no factory stores, no tea ceremony, no shopping site restaurant. Avoid wasting time at any shopping motive stop.
Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What‘s Included
One way Economy-class airfare from Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Chongqing.
Hotel or cruise cabin accommodation based on twin-sharing room
Professional English-speaking guides
One-way bullet train ticket from Yichang to Shanghai
Drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
Entrance fees to tourist sites
Two bottled water per person per day
The service charge recruited by the cruise company
Gratuities to guides and drivers (recommended)
China visa fees
International airfare
Excess luggage charges (where applicable)
Airport drop-off service in Shanghai on Day 11
Personal expenses
Not suitable for: People over 80 years old, Wheelchair users
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Capital Airport
Shunyi Beijing China
What To Expect
Arrival in Beijing & Pick-up
Accommodations
Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong (5 stars)
Beijing
Your professional local guide will meet you at Beijing Airport after reclaiming your luggage and clearing customs. The driver will take you to the hotel in a comfortable vehicle and help you with the check-in procedure. The rest of the day is left for you to have a good rest or to become familiar with our capital city on your own.
Beijing City Highlights Tour
Accommodations
Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong (5 stars)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
A la carte lunch
Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)
Tiananmen Square is the biggest urban city square in the world.
Forbidden City-The Palace Museum
From the Tiananmen Square, you will enter the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City to explore its fascinating halls and pavilions. Here, you will not only learn how the emperor handled political affairs and lived their lives, but appreciate numerous ancient art treasures. At noon, an a la carte welcome lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) will be served at a superb local restaurant, where you can have a taste of authentic Chinese food and the most famous Peking Roast Duck.
Temple of Heaven
In the afternoon, you will see the Temple of Heaven, with its unique architecture, where the emperors worshipped the heavens in hopes of good harvests.
Red Theater Acrobatic Show Official
Tonight, we will arrange for you to enjoy the wonderful acrobatic show in the Red Theater.
China Great Wall Tour
Accommodations
Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong (5 stars)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Mutianyu Great Wall
This morning we will take you to Mutianyu section to experience at first hand the wonder of the Great Wall. The round-trip cable car will be arranged. Standing on the wall and looking at it stretching up and down into boundless distance is an exciting experience and will leave you a life-long memory. To celebrate and commemorate this moment, we specially provide red wine for a group-toasting on the Great Wall.
Bird's Nest National Stadium
In the afternoon, on the way back you will have a photo stop at the Olympic National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest.
Hutong Tour
Afterwards, you will take a rickshaw tour to explore the original Hutong alleys and have a chance to visit a local family.
Beijing - Xi'an by High-speed Train
Accommodations
Crowne Plaza Xi'an (5 stars)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)
In the morning, you will visit the Summer Palace - the largest existing imperial garden with a graceful landscape and magnificent constructions.
Xi'an
After that, transfer you to the railway station and you will take a high speed train to Xi'an around 5 hours. Upon your arrival, your local guide will meet you at the station and escort you to the hotel downtown.
Terracotta Army Tour
Accommodations
Crowne Plaza Xi'an (5 stars)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
DINNER
Dinner
Dumpling dinner with the show (April to November)
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
The visit to the Terracotta Army will begin your day's journey. In the museum, there are three excavated pits displaying amazing warrior figures and Chinese ancient weapons. Afterwards, take a family visit to the home of the first discoverer of the Terracotta Army. And then make a mini clay warrior by yourself with the help of a local artisan.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta)
In the afternoon, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built in the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) to store the Buddhist scriptures brought from ancient India.
Tang Dynasty Show
A splendid evening is in store when you will be entertained by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show while partaking in the famous Dumpling Dinner. Since the theater is not open in January, February, March, and December, the tour prices do not include the show and dumpling dinner for tours that start during those months.
Xi'an - Chongqing by flight
Accommodations
Century Victory (5 stars)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
DINNER
Dinner
Xi'an City Wall (Chengqiang)
The day begins with a leisure visit to the City Wall Park, where you can observe the day-to-day life of the locals and learn to practice Tai Chi with the master. Then continue to visit the ancient City Wall for an exciting experience.
Chongqing
Afterwards, fly to Chongqing. Your guide will pick you up and help you to check in at the luxury Century Cruise Ship. The buffet dinner will be served on board. Tonight, you will be invited to attend the Welcome Party hosted by the Captain.
Yangtze River Cruise
Accommodations
Century Victory (5 stars)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Fengdu Ghost City
After breakfast, disembark for an excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City. Afternoon is free time for you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Yangtze River on deck. Attend some cultural programs onboard if you like.
Yangtze River Cruise
Accommodations
Century Victory (5 stars)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Shennv Stream
The most essential part of your Yangtze River cruise tour comes today as the ship sails through the Three Gorges: Qutang, Wu and Xiling gorges. Experience an exciting onshore excursion to Shennv Stream.
Yichang - Shanghai by a bullet train
Accommodations
The Sunrise on the Bund (4 stars) - for 2026 & 2027
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Three Gorges Dam Project
After breakfast, you will disembark for an excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. Before that, you should pack your luggage and complete check-out procedures. After finishing the excursion, the cruise ship company will drive you to the Three Gorges Tourist Center in Yichang city. Our local guide will meet you there and then see you off at Yichang East Railway Station for a bullet train to Shanghai.
Shanghai
After around 7.5 hours on the train, you will arrive in Shanghai. Your local guide will meet you at the railway station in Shanghai and take you to your hotel for check-in.
Shanghai City Trip
Accommodations
The Sunrise on the Bund (4 stars) - for 2026 & 2027
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
A la carte lunch
Shanghai Museum (Shanghai Bowuguan)
This morning, you will visit one of the four largest museums in China, Shanghai Museum, which specializes in exhibiting art works from ancient times.
Yu Garden (Yuyuan)
After that, explore Yu Garden and its nearby traditional bazaar. The symbol of the Garden is the Nine Zigzag Bridge built of granite and grass-white jade and the quaint, elegant mid-lake pavilion.
Huangpu River
After that, stroll along the thriving Bund area and then take a one-hour cruise along the Huangpu River - the mother river of Shanghai. As the symbol and a microcosm of the city, the river has witnessed the glory, humiliation, despair, and prosperity of Shanghai.
Leave Shanghai
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
Shanghai
After breakfast at the hotel, please find your own way to the airport for your homeward flight. Due to different flight schedules, the hotel-airport transfer service is not included. However, we would be happy to assist you if needed.
Options
Ancient Cities with Yangtze
Starting from Beijing, this tour will be extended to Xian to appreciate the imposing Terracotta Warriors. Next, head to Chongqing for a 4-day Yangtze River cruise and then visit Shanghai at the end.
Pickup included
Reviews
14 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing China Tour
katam88,
Jun 7, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wendy Lee at Travel China Guide - Agate Travel was fantastic from the moment of my first enquiry. As a senior solo traveller a trip to China was a little daunting to organise but once I found Wendy all went well. I joined a small group tour but also veered off on a couple of train journeys to visit Pandas & to join a Yangtze River cruise. All of this was organised by Wendy. She arranged guides to meet me who in turn guided me to & from activities & the trains. I highly recommend Wendy & her colleagues. My China trip was amazing, well planned & I enjoyed every moment. Thanks Wendy & team.
Private China tour in 2012
Rina44,
Aug 3, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We used the company Xian Marco Polo International Travel Services (I believe it is known as: Travel China Guide)for our family tour to China. We were skeptical of using this company initially since we had no feedback except for the TripAdvisor reviews. The booking from UK was seamless, very quick, safe and efficient. The hotels and everything on the itinerary was perfect and well planned, with very good guides and transport to all the places included. So much so, that we are now planning to visit Vietnam and I am trying to see if this company does any tours to Vietnam and we would use their services again quite confidently..
11 Day small group tour to China with a 3 day add on to Thailand
Djkanai,
Nov 12, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing tour was arranged by Abbey from Travel China Guide. She was so helpful, friendly, and accommodating when we wanted Thailand added to our 11 day trip. I travelled in Oct 2019 with my family of 5. We requested a no shopping, small group tour. The tour more than exceeded all our expectations. The small group of 16 got along so well that we dubbed ourselves Linda's Family after our guide Linda in Beijing. The hotels, meals, and tour guides from Linda in Beijing, Tracy in Xian, Sid and Joan on the Yangtze river cruise, Ocean in Shanghai and finally Kat in Bangkok were all first class. The tour was executed seamlessly. I would highly recommend using Travel China Guide as your tour operator if you are thinking of touring China. Thank you TCG for an unforgettable amazing trip !!!
Linda, our outstanding Beijing guide (Travel Guide China tour}
Brenda M,
Sep 10, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We could not have asked for a more professional, friendly and knowledgeable guide than Linda to introduce us to this wonderful city. We & 14 other travellers instantly became her "family". She was highly organised, always punctual and nothing was too much trouble. With her help we made our way quickly and smoothly through holiday crowds, especially in Tian'amen Square, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Especially appreciated was the visit to a home in the Hutong Village where we were so warmly welcomed. Other highlights were the day spent at the Great Wall, the Kung Fu show and the delicious & convivial Chinese meals we enjoyed. It was incredible how much we were able too pack into such a short stay and I'm sure the whole group has returned home with many happy memories of being part of "Linda's Family".
Beijing with Linda of Travel China Tours
ftchina,
Sep 1, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Linda with Travel China Tours was great! She was professional and informative, and maybe most of all, personable - she called our small group, "Linda's Family", which made us feel more at home in a distant and very different culture. In a few days, Linda took us to see Tian'amen Square, the Forbidden City, Hutong Village, the Great Wall, and the Summer palace, not to mention a few great lunches - we did a lot. It was all very interesting and Linda made it more enjoyable. However, the heat, humidity, pollution, and the tremendous crowds made the days longer and more tiring. The time of year to visit should be an important consideration when traveling to China.
Great way to see China without any hassle!
John F,
Aug 31, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour is a great way to see China without having to navigate any of the difficulties of trying to organize any details yourself; transport and tickets are all arranged in advance so you save multiple hours a day having to queue or wait in line yourself; not to mention trying to figure out where and when to go to to order and collect tickets surrounded by the throngs of people which can be overwhelming at some of China's most popular tourist sites. Our tour guide in Beijing Linda was very friendly and funny, and was very knowledgeable about Beijing's history and Chinese Culture, and went out of her way to make sure we all had a good time on this trip.
Perfect guide tour - Candy
reshkings,
Jun 15, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Candy was our tour guide at Beijing and she was the best . Loved the way she kept saying “Follow candy”. She Ensured each member of our group Was comfortable and ensured our stay in Beijing was great! Thanks Candy!
service provided by china tours was exceptional
PeterhAustralia,
Jun 4, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00our entire trip was blessed with wonderful attention from Kitty in beijing to all the other ist class guides china tours did a great job right from the airport. the hotel were great and the location of them very good we also had free time to explore i would and have recommended Kitty and China tours to a number of friends and im sure we will use there services in the future best wishes to all thanks again
Excellent!
Lesyann1,
May 17, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I travelled in March-April to China and selected Travel China Guide to receive the tour (Shanghai, Beijing, Xian, Guilin) The experience was pleasant, excellent Service and wonderful guides. The hotels selected were excellent and so were land and air transfers. All guides very good and knowledgeable. Especially our guide Ocean in Shanghai. Very helpful and friendly. Without a doubt the Better guide! Highly recommended.
11-Day Small-Group China Tour: Beijing - Xi'an - Yangtze Cruise - Shanghai
halewilson,
Mar 25, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thank you for a wonderful time in China! Our group of six had a great time from the time we arrived at the airport in Beijing to our final day in Shanghai. We had a variety of personal guides throughout our trip in different cities. Our Beijing guide, John, welcomed our group at the airport upon arrival, our vehicle was very nice, clean, and the driver also provided bottled water which was much appreciated. John proved to be an excellent and knowledgeable guide and spoke very good English. John got our group past the long lines and avoided the typical tourist traps. We really liked that he introduced us to local Chinese cuisine, it was nice to have a meal in a family type restaurant away from the hustle and bustle of the other tour eateries. To be honest, John set the bar fairly high for our other guides! However they were all very excellent, knowledgeable, friendly, spoke great English, and our vehicles were comfortable and clean. Hotel accommodations were good and provided great meals with some western foods (bacon and eggs, coffee, OJ) for those less inclined. The tour guides did a great job moving our group to and from, planes, trains, and automobiles, always making sure we were where we supposed to be! Language wise, we go so accustomed to our guides being so attentive that we rarely used the recommended WeChat app. I highly recommend this tour!
From US$2,539.00
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