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China Small Group and Private Tailor-made Tours
China Off the Beaten Track
Route Number 
L001141
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Highlights of the Itinerary

The Bund, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market, Peace Hotel, Former French Concession

Mt. Huangshan Scenic Area, Hongcun Village

West Lake, Tea Plantation

 Stone Forest,Erhai Lake Biking Tour, Bai Minority Villages,Trekking along Tiger Leaping Gorge

Giant Panda, Wenshu Temple, Tea House, Jinli Old Street

Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Street, Great Mosque

Jinshanling Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven  

Day 1:  Arrival, Shanghai

Welcome to Shanghai, the most cosmopolitan city in China! Your personal tour guide will meet you at the arrival hall and escort you to your hotel in downtown. The rest of the day is yours to relax.

Day 2: Shanghai(B/L)
Catering

Start your Shanghai tour with an in-depth exploration of the Bund to get a microcosm of old Shanghai and its spectacular international architectures. The Bund tour includes a heritage tour in the historic Peace Hotel. After that, head to Yu Garden to appreciate the traditional Chinese garden and lounge around the bustling Yuyuan Market outside it, and then visit a silk workshop to see how small cocoons be transformed into elegant silk. Finally, finish today's tour with a relaxing roam around the former French Concession.


Day 3:Shanghai - Huangshan(B/L)
Catering

After breakfast, take the high-speed train departing from Shanghai. Arrive in Huangshan after 3 hours, be picked up and led to visit Hongcun, one of the most charming ancient villages that has been listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Overnight in a characteristic countryside hotel nearby.


Day 4:Huangshan - Mt. Huangshan(B/L)
Catering

Have some leisurely time in the morning and then proceed to Huangshan Scenery Area (the Yellow Mountain). Take a cable car up and then walk around 30 minutes along the stone path to get to the hotel. Settle down at the hotel and visit the West Sea Area in the afternoon.


Day 5:Huangshan - Hangzhou(B/L)
Catering

Get up early and have a chance to catch the spectacular sunrise. Later, check out the hotel and explore the Beihai Area before taking the cable car down for the 3 hours' high-speed train to Hangzhou. Arrive in Hangzhou in the late afternoon, be greeted and transferred to your hotel by the local tour guide.


Day 6: Hangzhou(B/L)
Catering

It is an easy day for you to discover the enduring beauty of Hangzhou with its poetic West Lake, fabulous green tea plantation, and the affable Hu Qingyu Traditional Chinese Medicine Drugstore. Here, you can see a busy scene that is closely related to the lives of ordinary people for hundreds of years ago.


Day 7:Hangzhou - Kunming(B/L)
Catering

Leisure morning to do further exploration in the city on your own. In the afternoon, take 3.5 hours' flight to Kunming, meet local tour guide and then move to the hotel near downtown.


Day 8: Kunming – Dali

Today, you will firstly visit the famous Stone Forest - a bizarre rock formation created over millennia erosion of rain and wind, and then take the high-speed train to Dali. Get to Dali in the early evening, and then be welcomed by local tour guide and driver.


Day 9: Dali

A cycling day along Erhai Lake today! The biking tour will take around 5 hours, and you will pass through beautiful farmlands and many Bai minority villages, such as Yangbo, Zhongzhuang, and Haishe. Stop here for taking photos or tasting local food. Finally, ride back to the old town along the coming road, or another way along the National Highway 214.


Day 10: Dali - Shaxi – Lijiang

Drive 3 hours forward the northwest for a visit of Shaxi Ancient Town, an important stop on the ancient tea-horse road, which still maintains the oldest features. After the tour in Shaxi, drive to Lijiang by another 2 hours. After arriving in Shuhe Old Town of Lijiang in the late afternoon, check into the hotel and relax on your own.


Day 11: Lijiang

It is a free day for your own exploration.

You may just ramble around in the old town, or take an optional tour to the Jade Snow Mountain or Baisha Village. Whatever is necessary, please feel free to ask for advice with your travel consultant.


Day 12: Lijiang

Today, you will have a trekking tour in the countryside north of Lijiang and enjoy the stunning scenery of the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Firstly, drive to Qiaotou where you will start the trekking until the Tea Horse Guesthouse. The trekking tour will take around 4 to 5 hours, depending on your physical strength.


Day 13: Lijiang - Shangri-La

Continue trekking about 2-3 hours to Tina's Guesthouse where your private driver will pick you up and transfer you to Shangri-La (3 to 4 hours will be needed on the road), which will easily evoke your imagination of the mysterious Orient. Being so high with the average elevation of 3,200 m, you may feel some altitude sickness while in Shangri-La. Good rest and slow paces are highly recommended.


Day 14: Shangri-La – Chengdu

Free time for you to refresh from the previous days' trekking and get adjust to the high altitude. Late in the afternoon, take a flight to Chengdu. After arrival, be transferred to the downtown hotel by your Chengdu guide.


Day 15: Chengdu

Today, you will visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding firstly to see the adorable pandas, followed by a trip to the Wenshu Temple where you can spend some time sitting in its tea house and enjoying a cup of traditional Chinese tea and absorb the special atmosphere of Chengdu. Your tour today will end by Jinli Old Street.


Day 16: Chengdu - Xi'an

Head to Xi'an by the high-speed train. When arriving in Xi'an after 4 hours, your private guide will pick you up and escort you to the hotel. Take a short break at the hotel and then have a bicycle tour on the top of the Ancient City Wall to enjoy the old city panorama.


Day 17: Xi'an

This morning, drive about one hour to visit the legendary Terracotta Warriors and marvel at the thousands of vivid life-size clay armies. In the afternoon, get back and explore the city by exploring Muslim Street and the Great Mosque.


Day 18: Xi'an – Beijing

Say goodbye to the ancient capital of Xi'an and then take the high-speed train to Beijing - China's present capital and another historical city of China.

After arriving in the early afternoon, be met and escorted to visit the imperial Summer Palace. Later on, check into the hotel.


Day 19: Beijing

Your discovery in the city will start from Tiananmen Square, the badge of the Chinese political centre. From there, you can proceed to the Forbidden City. Walk from the Meridian Gate to East Flowery Gate, you will not only feel the mysterious ambience in the royal palace, but also see the Imperial Ancestral Temple where royal members worshiped their ancestors. Afterward, go on with a tour to the Temple of Heaven, which is a holy place the emperor would visit annually to pray for good harvest for his empire.


Day 20: Beijing

Today's journey will take you to the magnificent Great Wall - a must see site in China.

To avoid the crowds and get a better view, Jinshanling Great Wall is recommended for you and it will take about 2.5 hours to drive from the city. This is one of the best-preserved sections which keeps many original features. You can do a hike on it for around 3 to 4 hours according to your interests.


Day 21: Beijing, Departure

Farewell time now! When you are ready, the guide and driver will transfer you to the airport for your international flight back home.


Detail

About This Trip:Explore China's classic sights and off-the-beaten tracks in 21 days. You will visit the highlights in the major cities, including the grand buildings in the Bund of Shanghai, the mysterious Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an, the ancient winding Great Wall of Beijing, and the cute giant pandas of Chengdu. Deep into China, you will explore the magnificent Mt. Huangshan in Huangshan and the mesmerizing West Lake in Hangzhou. Besides, discover the essential parts of Yunnan: the UNESCO-listed Kunming Stone Forrest, the elegant Dali Erhai Lake, the Lijiang hiking paradise - Tiger Leaping Gorge, etc.


About This Trip:Explore China's classic sights and off-the-beaten tracks in 21 days. You will visit the highlights in the major cities, including the grand buildings in the Bund of Shanghai, the mysterious Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an, the ancient winding Great Wall of Beijing, and the cute giant pandas of Chengdu. Deep into China, you will explore the magnificent Mt. Huangshan in Huangshan and the mesmerizing West Lake in Hangzhou. Besides, discover the essential parts of Yunnan: the UNESCO-listed Kunming Stone Forrest, the elegant Dali Erhai Lake, the Lijiang hiking paradise - Tiger Leaping Gorge, etc.


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Genuine Reviews
Based on 12 traveler reviews
Chengdu est tellement belle, j'aime beaucoup Chengdu, c'est la première fois que je vois des pandas géants, et la ville de Chongqing est vraiment magnifique. Les différences de hauteur des bâtiments dans toute la ville me donnent l'impression d'être dans une ville du futur.
<a href=8 Days Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhangjiajie Tour">
Apr 2, 2026
MAX0921
The car is brand new. V rented it for two days: one day for a 10-hour tour in Hong Kong, and one day to take us to Shenzhen to visit and then return us to Hong Kong later that evening. NOT BAD.
<a href=Luxury Car With Driver In Hongkong 10H">
Mar 27, 2026
Max
shanghai is a good city to visit, I think it is same as New York city! there are many people from UK and USA, so many people live in here. this tour make me know the China again, I will recommend the country to retire.
<a href=5 Days Private Shanghai and Zhangjiajie Tour">
Mar 27, 2026
William
For our 25th anniversary, my wife and I booked this Sichuan loop. Our guide Wang picked us up with hot tea, small start to a big adventure. Wolong's pandas were incredible, but the real magic began climbing toward Mount Siguniang. Snow peaks, empty valleys, Wang knowing every photo spot. At 4,700 meters near Litang, my wife felt dizzy. Wang had oxygen ready, made us rest. "No rush," he said. Twenty minutes later, we were walking among yaks on the roof of the world. Yading was worth every bumpy mile. Three holy mountains, turquoise lakes, prayer flags in the wind. Eight days, four thousand meters, one unforgettable anniversary.
<a href=8 Days Private Tour of Chengdu - Wolong Panda Reserve - Mount Siguniang - Danba - Xinduqiao - Litang - Yading">
Feb 11, 2026
KB H
I booked this 10-day trip for my parents' 30th anniversary. Dad's 62, mom's not a strong traveler, I was nervous. But Wandrift made everything smooth. our guide Tenzin met us at Lijiang airport with a warm smile and white hada scarves. First few days were gentle wandering Old Town, watching Naxi musicians perform. Mom loved the slow pace. Then came the drive to Shangri-La. Winding ountain roads. Mom started looking pale halfway through. Tenzin noticed immediately. He had the driver pull over at a scenic spot, gave mom some local herbal balm, and let her rest for 20 minutes. "No rush," he said. "The mountains will wait." That small kindness changed everything. We made it to Shangri-La. Mom recovered at the hotel while Tenzin took dad and me to visit a local family. Drank butter tea, learned about their daily life. Next day at Songzanlin Monastery, mom was back to her usual self, snapping photos and asking questions. Other highlights: hiking through Pudacuo's meadows, spotting yaks for the first time, the prayer flags fluttering in the wind. But what I'll remember most is that moment on the mountain road~a guide who cared more about my mom's comfort than keeping schedule.For anyone traveling with older parents in Yunnan, this tour is it.
<a href=10 Days In-depth Lijiang and Shangri-La Tour">
Jan 14, 2026
Nancy23
My friend and I booked this 5days trip for a quick getaway. Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars looked like something from another planet. Our guide Liu timed the Bailong Elevator perfectly, no lines, just mist rising around us like entering Pandora. At Tianmen Mountain, I froze at the glass walkway. My friend had to drag me across while Liu pretended not to watch. Furong Ancient Town surprised us. The waterfall flowing right through town at night, lights reflecting on water, we just sat there with noodles, saying nothing. Fenghuang felt like stepping back in time. Liu arranged a boat ride at dusk. Our rower sang local songs, lights coming on along the stilted houses. Magic. For a short China trip hitting big sights, this works perfectly.
<a href=5 Days to Zhangjiajie, Furong & Fenghuang">
Jan 13, 2026
William
Shanghai Disneyland was pure joy. Less crowded than expected, rides fantastic, and the castle stunning. Even as an adult, I felt like a kid again.
<a href=One Day Shanghai Disneyland">
Jan 7, 2026
HAHA
This hotel was such a nice upgrade on my trip through Xinjiang, Gansu and Ningxia. I was really surprised—China’s desert hotels are just as good as the ones in Morocco!Too bad we only had 2 days in Ningxia. The place is super nice, and all three of us were blown away. They have stargazing sessions and sand dune activities too.And the price here is even cheaper than on Ctrip. I totally recommend it!
<a href=Zhongwei Desert Star Hotel(NingXia)">
Dec 3, 2025
Chantal Scollard
As retirees living in Thailand, we usually prefer slower travel, but this 8-day Chengdu, Chongqing, and Zhangjiajie tour struck the perfect balance. Watching giant pandas at their morning feeding at the world’s largest breeding base was pure magic. Our guide, Helen, knew exactly when to arrive to avoid the crowds, her attention to detail was impeccable throughout. In Chongqing, Helen helped us navigate the dizzying levels of Hongya Cave at dusk; watching it transform into a real-life Spirited Away scene along the Jialing River was unforgettable. She even taught us to use Alipay and DiDi=we felt like locals! The Wulong karst bridges left us speechless. But Zhangjiajie? Surreal. Riding the world's tallest outdoor elevator up into those misty quartz peaks felt like entering Pandora. Helen arranged a morning hike along Gold Whip Streat, just us, bird songs, and towering cliffs. Between cities, we experienced China's high speed rail, smooth, punctual, and hitting 300 km each hours. We also tried food delivery apps and bike-sharing with Helen's guidance. Four modern technologies, one exceptional guide. Deeply grateful.
<a href=8 Days Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhangjiajie Tour">
Oct 30, 2025
Shante
Changsha-zhangjiajie-HK, fantastic! I will come china again~bro
<a href=7 Days Zhangjiajie Tour with Changsha and Hong Kong">
Oct 29, 2025
Niklas
Guilin, Shanghai und Beijing, von denen ich Guilin am liebsten mag. Es ist ein sehr geeigneter Ort für ein Rentnerleben. Früher habe ich viele Videos über Guilin auf YouTube gesehen. Ich denke, es ist ungefähr so wie Vietnam, das ich einmal besucht habe. Dort haben sich viele Europäer niedergelassen. Ich plane, im Alter mit meinem Mann in Guilin sesshaft zu werden. Das macht Vorfreude!
<a href=14 Days Shanghai - Zhangjiajie - Guilin - Xian - Beijing">
Oct 28, 2025
Susanne
we booked this 11-day trip for our first China visit. From Beijing's grandeur to Shanghai's skyline, every stop impressed. In Beijing, our guide Lucy took us to the Great Wall early, just us and misty mountains. She knew exactly where to stand for photos without crowds. The Forbidden City felt endless in the best way. Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors left us speechless. Lisa arranged a warrior-making workshop where we both failed hilariously at clay molding. That lopsided soldier now sits on our shelf. zhangjiawei stunned us most. Glass bridge had my husband gripping the railing while I laughed. Our guide Michael noticed my fear of heights and quietly suggested the forest path instead, shanghai's Huangpu cruise at night was pure magic. Different cities, different guides, all wonderful. For couples wanting hassle-free China, this tour delivers.
<a href=11 Days Private Tour of Beijing - Xi'an - Zhangjiajie - Shanghai">
Oct 16, 2025
Amy322
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