13-Day Capitals, Pandas, Guilin & Jiangnan Journey

Select a route section to explore the map. Tap a stop for its location or use the directions link for the next leg. Flights, trains, cruises and hiking arrangements follow your itinerary.

1 Beijing Directions to Xi’an

2 Xi’an Directions to Guilin

3 Guilin Directions to Yangshuo

4 Yangshuo Directions to Shanghai

5 Shanghai Directions to Suzhou

6 Suzhou Directions to Hangzhou

7 Hangzhou Directions to Shanghai

8 Shanghai

A journey in pursuit of the harmony of heaven and earth, civilization and nature.

Day 1 : Arrival in Beijing.

Day 2 : Discover all the fantasies that Beijing, the first ancient city in China has to offer - the Royal Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, the royal China's largest inner-city garden. The next day head to the lakeside Huanghuacheng Great Wall. Camping under the moon and stars in the Great Wall Beacon, where the ancient generals commanded battles, to experience the hardships of the warriors' lives. Savor the delicisious Chinese country-style dishes of organic food planted locally.

Day 3 : In the early hours of the morning, spread your arms to greet the sunrise on the Great Wall. Enjoy the unique sunrise sensation at the Great Wall with breakfast delivered to your tower. Hike for 2 hours on the silent ancient Great Wall and marvel at its grandeur and architectural wonders! ! High up on a hill overlooking a quiet lake. This section of the Great Wall is the only one built on the water's edge. After lunch return to Beijing and listen to the echoes of the past at the Temple of Heaven where the emperor used to pray every year.

Day 4: Fly to Xi’an in the morning to visit the Terracotta Warriors. Discovered by local farmers in 1974, these life-size soldiers and horses form part of the burial complex of China’s first emperor. In the evening, enjoy a dumpling banquet followed by a Tang dynasty music and dance performance inspired by imperial court life.

Day 5 : Visit the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, a library built during the Tang Dynasty to store hundreds of sutras brought back from India. Afterwards, go for a bike ride on top of the ancient walls of Xi'an, one of the most famous city structures of the late Middle Ages. Take a bite of Xi'an's meat bun - known as the Chinese hamburger before you say Good-bye. Bullet train to Chengdu.

Day 6 : When you are in China, how can you not see the adorable national treasure, the Giant Panda? Chengdu Giant Panda Base, the largest panda population in the world, is both a research facility for giant panda breeding and a mock-up of the giant panda population. It is an ecological park that houses more than 100 pandas in their wild habitat. Here, you can watch the pandas through a fence or glass window and, if you're lucky, you can see them in their silliness in the great outdoors. If you are lucky enough to see a newborn panda in the delivery room. Fly to Guilin.

Days 7-8 : We first took a cruise on the Li River to enjoy the picturesque "karst" karst landscapes unique to Guilin. Thousands of peaks surrounded by mountains and water, blue water and green hills, reflections of strange peaks, unique landscape of cave and stone beauty. After arriving at the ancient town of Yangshuo, take a bamboo raft ride down the Yulong River, watch the stone bridges go up and down, and watch the wild ducks play on the river. See the ancient village life and fully immerse yourself in this mountainous and idyllic dreamland.

For a different perspective on the Guilin region, explore on foot. A three-hour walk through the 650-year-old Longji Rice Terraces offers views of the fields and an introduction to the traditions and daily lives of local communities.

While you're here, don't miss Guilin's street food "Guilin Rice Noodles" and "Teppan Tofu." Be sure to have your guide take you for a taste.

Days 9–10: Explore Shanghai’s historic neighborhoods and modern skyline. Walk along Nanjing Road, enjoy panoramic views from an observation deck, and pause for coffee in Tianzifang. Cruise the Huangpu River to see both banks and learn about the Bund’s commercial history. Visit Zhujiajiao for a different view of the city through its canals, bridges, and traditional streets.

Days 11-12 : Marvel at the fascinating history and beauty of Suzhou, the “Garden City of China.” The beauty of Suzhou gardens is carefully arranged without compromising the beauty of nature. "No matter what point the visitor stands on, there is always a perfect picture in front of him." Suzhou gardens are a representation of a secluded culture, and when you walk into those private gardens, you'll sense that the owners of those gardens were loving life in a poetic way. It's well worth spending two days visiting five of the most famous of Suzhou's gardens: the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Master of the Nets Garden, the Liuyuan Garden, the Canglang Pavilion, and the Lion Forest.

Day 13 : Ancient Chinese proverb: As above, there is paradise, below, there is Suzhou and Hangzhou. Today is a full day excursion to Hangzhou's most famous lake, West Lake. A visit to West Lake is like reading a love story, visiting its main chapters: Broken Bridge with Remains of Snow, White Embankment, Wind and Lotus in the Qu Yuan, Spring Dawn in Su Ti, and Fish Watching in the Flower Harbor. The water of the West Lake leisurely ripples, so dont' forge to get on a boat to cross the lake and have an extraordinary pleasure. As important as sightseeing, relish Hangzhou's special food is another way to enjoy your trip. Return to Shanghai in the evening to end this 13-day adventure.