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China Small Group and Private Tailor-made Tours
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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
We had an incredible time exploring Dali with Wandrift China Tour. The ancient towns, peaceful Erhai Lake and stunning snow-capped Cangshan Mountain took our breath away. Dali’s slow lifestyle, fresh air and unique local culture are absolutely charming. Every arrangement was well-organized, and our guide was friendly, professional and thoughtful. Thank you so much to Wandrift China Tour for creating such a wonderful and memorable Dali journey for our family. We truly enjoyed every moment.
<a href=3 Days Private Dali Tour">
Apr 24, 2026
Luuk
We fell in love with the slow, gentle vibe of Chengdu, home to cute pandas and tasty local snacks. Chongqing amazed us with its unique mountain city views, magical night scenery and authentic hot pot. Every moment was romantic and relaxing. The local culture, warm atmosphere and delicious food made our trip perfect. It has become our most precious travel memory together.
<a href=2 Days Private Chengdu Panda & Food Tour">
Apr 24, 2026
Henny
We had an amazing 8-day trip in Lijiang and Dali. Our guide Alice was excellent with fluent English, thoughtful arrangement and vivid introduction to local culture. Highly recommended!
<a href=8 Days Private Tour of Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Shangri-La">
Apr 22, 2026
Elsa
Thanks to the tour guide Alexander for showing us the face-changing and fire-breathing of Chinese culture. There are so many fun things in Chengdu, I recommend this travel agency.
<a href=2 Days Dujiangyan and Panda Keeper Tour from Chengdu">
Apr 21, 2026
Sam
Chongqing is a good city, amazing, we hiked and swung on the highest building in the city, it was so thrilling. good place to visit. I will recommend the tour company wandrift and the the contact person Liam, she is so quickly to solved any problem@LIAM
<a href=4 Days Private Tour of Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang">
Apr 21, 2026
Eason
Chongqing is very a good city to travel, very good!
<a href=8 Days Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhangjiajie Tour">
Apr 16, 2026
Bekcy
Chongqing is amazing! I love the night view, the spicy hot pot, and the friendly people. This magical mountain city is unforgettable. I’ll be back!
<a href=4 Days Private Tour of Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Yichang">
Apr 15, 2026
LEO
Nanning is a good place to visit, Marry give us best experience in this city, the city always many fruit. recommend it.
<a href=5 Days West Yunnan Private Tour to Dali - Tengchong">
Apr 10, 2026
Faith
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
My mom and I took this 5-day Chengdu tour. She's 68 and likes temples, tea, and slow walking. This trip was made for her. First day in Chengdu, our guide Wei took us to a local teahouse where old men played mahjong and parrots whistled. Mom loved it. Next day, Leshan Buddha. The stairs down to its feet are steep, but Wei found us a boat instead. Seeing the 71-meter giant from the river, mom just kept saying "wow." Emei Mountain was the highlight. We stayed overnight at a temple near the summit. Monks chanting at dawn, mist rolling through ancient pines. Mom cried a little. "My father told me about this place when I was a little girl," she said. Wei carried our bags the whole way. Small thing, meant everything. For anyone traveling with older parents in Sichuan, book this.
<a href=5 Days Private Tour of Chengdu - Leshan Buddha - Mt. Emei">
Mar 17, 2026
Sam
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