China Rivers & Terraces: Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin & Shanghai

Day 1

Arrive in Beijing, Hotel Check In

As your flight touches down in Beijing, you’ll be met on arrival by your guide for a comfortable transfer into the city and a smooth check in at The Peninsula Beijing. Once you have settled into your room, the remainder of the day is intentionally unhurried, giving you time to recover from the journey, make the most of the hotel’s facilities, or simply ease into the rhythm of the capital. If you feel up to it, you might take a gentle stroll in the surrounding area, perhaps along Wangfujing for a first glimpse of Beijing’s energy, before returning to the hotel for a relaxed evening and a good night’s rest ahead of the days to come.

Overnight: Beijing

Day 2

BBeijing Imperial Highlights, Forbidden City and Hutongs

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin exploring Beijing’s imperial centre. Start at Tiananmen Square before stepping into the Forbidden City, once the private world of China’s emperors and one of the most important palace complexes on earth. Later, slow the pace with a rickshaw ride through the hutongs, where courtyard homes and narrow lanes reveal the city’s older rhythm. Continue to the Temple of Heaven, a peaceful ceremonial site with beautiful symmetry and a calm atmosphere that contrasts with the city outside. Return to The Peninsula Beijing in the afternoon, with time to relax before dinner.

Overnight: Beijing

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3

The Great Wall Hike and the Summer Palace

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and you’ll set off for a full day exploring two of Beijing’s most iconic sights. Your first stop is the Great Wall at Mutianyu, prized for its sweeping mountain views and a more relaxed atmosphere than the busiest sections. Here, you’ll have time to walk along the ramparts at your own pace, pause for photographs, and really take in the scale of this extraordinary landmark without feeling hurried.

Later, you’ll return to the city and continue to the Summer Palace, the Qing emperors’ elegant lakeside retreat. Stroll along shaded pathways and through landscaped gardens, taking in classical pavilions and scenic viewpoints across Kunming Lake. At the end of the day, you’ll return to The Peninsula Beijing for a restful evening, with time to unwind and recharge for what comes next.

Overnight: Beijing

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4

High Speed Train to Xi’an, Muslim Quarter and Big Wild Goose Pagoda

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out, then transfer to the railway station for your high speed train to Xi’an. The journey takes around five hours and is a comfortable way to watch the landscape shift as you travel west. On arrival, you’ll be met by your local guide and begin your first introduction to the city.

Start at the Great Mosque and continue into the surrounding Muslim Quarter, where lively lanes are filled with food stalls, local shops, and a completely different rhythm from Beijing. From here, you’ll carry on to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of Xi’an’s most important historic landmarks, closely linked to the Buddhist pilgrimages that helped shape China’s spiritual story.

At the end of the day, you’ll be transferred to Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an for a smooth check in and a restful evening.

Overnight: Xi’an

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5

Xi’an City Wall and Terracotta Warriors, Fly to Guilin

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out of your hotel. Your guide will then meet you and you’ll begin with Xi’an’s City Wall, one of the best preserved in China and still remarkably impressive for its scale and strength. You’ll then continue to the Terracotta Warriors, an extraordinary archaeological discovery first uncovered by local farmers in 1974. Walking through the vast excavation halls, you’ll see thousands of life sized figures standing in silent formation, each one distinct, with its own facial features, armour, and finely worked detail.

Later, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin. On arrival, you’ll be met and driven to the Shangri-La Guilin for a smooth check in and time to unwind. With its peaceful riverside setting, it is the perfect place to slow the pace and ease into Guilin’s softer, more scenic rhythm.

Overnight: Guilin

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6

Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages

After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and you’ll depart for Longsheng, around two hours away. The day is spent at the Longji Rice Terraces, where layered hillsides ripple into the distance and the views shift beautifully with the changing light and weather. You’ll have time to follow the terrace paths at a comfortable pace, stopping for photographs and to simply take in the scenery.

You’ll also visit nearby minority villages for a closer look at local traditions and daily life in this mountain region. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to Guilin and back to Shangri-La Guilin, with time to unwind and enjoy a relaxed evening by the river.

Overnight: Guilin

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7

Li River Cruise to Yangshuo, West Street and Fuli Old Town

After breakfast, your guide will collect you for one of southern China’s defining experiences, a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. This is the landscape many people imagine when they picture the region, limestone peaks rising sharply from the riverbanks, bamboo groves and rice paddies, and quiet riverside scenes that feel wonderfully timeless. Settle in and enjoy the gentle pace of the journey, with plenty of opportunities for photographs as the scenery unfolds.

On arrival in Yangshuo, you’ll have time to explore West Street, a lively mix of local character and small shops, cafés, and street life. You’ll then continue to Fuli Old Town, known for its painted fans and traditional crafts, offering a more intimate glimpse of local artistry. Later, you’ll return to Guilin and back to Shangri-La Guilin for a relaxed evening.

Overnight: Guilin

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8

Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill, Fly to Shanghai

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out. Your guide will then meet you for a final taste of Guilin, beginning with Reed Flute Cave, where dramatic limestone formations and softly lit chambers create an almost otherworldly atmosphere. You’ll then continue to Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin’s classic landmark and one of the city’s best known viewpoints, offering a fitting farewell to the landscapes that define this region.

Later, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. As you arrive, your private chauffeur will be waiting to take you into the city for a smooth transfer to The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong and check in. Once you have settled in, the evening is kept calm, giving you time to unwind and enjoy those first striking skyline views over the river.

Overnight: Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9

Shanghai Highlights, Yu Garden, The Bund and Shanghai Tower

After breakfast, your guide will meet you and you’ll begin at Yu Garden, a classical oasis in the heart of the old city. Wander through pavilions, rockeries, ponds, and quiet courtyards, where every view feels carefully composed and beautifully framed. You’ll then continue to The Bund for Shanghai’s most iconic waterfront perspective, with elegant historic façades facing the futuristic skyline across the river.

Later, enjoy a stroll along Nanjing Road, soaking up the atmosphere of Shanghai’s famous shopping boulevard. You’ll also visit the Shanghai Museum to explore its cultural collections and historic treasures, before heading to Shanghai Tower for sweeping panoramic views over the city. In the early evening, spend time around Zhangyuan, where restored shikumen lanes blend heritage architecture with Shanghai’s modern energy.

Return to The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong for your final evening.

Overnight: Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10

Depart Shanghai

After breakfast, take a moment to check out, then you’ll be met for a smooth private transfer to Shanghai airport for your onward flight. Settle in, relax as you journey home, and savour the memories of the experiences and landscapes you have discovered along the way. We look forward to creating your next adventure, wherever it may take you.

Meals included: Breakfast