12-Day China Itinerary: Culture, History & Scenic Wonders
Suggested 12-Day Itinerary
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| 1-4Beijing | Discover the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Great Wall, and hutong rickshaw ride |
| 5-6Xi’an | Explore the Terracotta Warriors, cycle on the Ancient City Wall, visit Big & Small Wild Goose Pagodas, Muslim Quarter, and Tang-style night shows |
| 7-8Nanjing & Wuxi | Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Ming Tombs, Qinhuai River night cruise, Zen-inspired Nianhua Bay light show |
| 9-10Suzhou, Wuzhen & Hangzhou | Stroll Suzhou’s Lingering Garden, overnight in Wuzhen Water Town with boat rides, explore West Lake and enjoy the Song Dynasty Romance show |
| 11-12Shanghai | Experience the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden, Shanghai skyline from above, and farewell from Pudong Airport |
Tour Highlights
- 🚩 Walk through five ancient capitals: Beijing, Xi’an, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.
- 🏯 Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Terracotta Warriors, Suzhou Gardens, and West Lake.
- 🍜 Taste authentic flavors from Beijing duck to Xi’an street food, Suzhou snacks to Hangzhou tea delicacies.
- 🚄 Enjoy the speed and comfort of China’s high-speed trains between major cities.
- 🌙 Stay overnight inside water towns and Zen resorts, with exclusive night experiences.
Tour “Wow” Points ✨
🏯 History Highlights
The Forbidden City (Beijing)
Step into the world’s largest imperial palace, home to 24 emperors. Golden roofs, majestic courtyards, and hidden chambers bring China’s royal past vividly to life.
The Great Wall at Badaling
One of the world’s most iconic landmarks. Walk along its ancient stones, marvel at mountain views, and add a thrill with a cable car up and a toboggan ride down.
Terracotta Warriors (Xi’an)
An underground army frozen in time. Each of the 8,000 soldiers has unique features—an archaeological wonder you can only see in China.
Xi’an Ancient City Wall
Bike along the best-preserved city wall in China. From above, enjoy sweeping views of the old capital merging with the modern skyline.
🌸 Cultural Immersions
Nianhua Bay (Wuxi)
A lakeside Zen-inspired town where glowing lanterns, quiet temples, and spectacular light shows create a dreamlike evening escape.
Wuzhen Water Town
Step into a living painting of canals, stone bridges, and lantern-lit streets. Glide on a boat through centuries-old waterways and soak up Jiangnan romance.
🌿 Scenic Escapes
West Lake (Hangzhou)
UNESCO-listed and poetically called “heaven on earth.” Willow-shaded paths, mirrored waters, and graceful pagodas capture the essence of Chinese beauty.
Lingering Garden (Suzhou)
One of China’s finest classical gardens, where winding corridors, delicate pavilions, and koi-filled ponds reflect the elegance of Jiangnan artistry.
🌆 Modern Icons
The Bund (Shanghai)
Where old meets new: colonial-era buildings face futuristic skyscrapers across the river. At night, the dazzling lights make the skyline unforgettable.
The Bird’s Nest (Beijing National Stadium)
An architectural marvel from the 2008 Olympics, the Bird’s Nest is more than a stadium—it’s a symbol of modern China’s global vision. Its striking steel lattice design makes it one of the most photographed landmarks in Beijing, especially when illuminated at night.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 – Beijing Arrival
Airport pick-up and check-in near Qianmen/Nanluoguxiang. (Tips: Book Forbidden City & Mao Memorial tickets 7 days in advance.)
Day 2 – Essence of Beijing
Tiananmen Square, Mao Memorial, Forbidden City with official guide, hutong rickshaw ride, and authentic Beijing dinner.
Day 3 – Great Wall Adventure
Early visit to Badaling Great Wall (cable car & toboggan ride), Old Summer Palace ruins, Olympic Park night view.
Day 4 – Imperial Gardens → Xi’an
Summer Palace highlights, Temple of Heaven, then high-speed train to Xi’an. Stay near Bell Tower & Muslim Quarter.
Day 5 – Tang Dynasty Immersion
Cycle Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall, explore stele museum, enjoy Tang-style immersive show The Longest Day in Chang’an, and Grand Tang Dynasty Everbright City parade.
Day 6 – Terracotta Army & Huaqing Palace
Official guided tour of Terracotta Warriors, plus optional Song of Everlasting Sorrow show or VR Tang Palace.
Day 7 – Xi’an → Nanjing
Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Big Wild Goose Pagoda & fountain show, then high-speed train to Nanjing. Night cruise on Qinhuai River.
Day 8 – Nanjing Heritage → Wuxi Zen Retreat
Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum & Ming Tombs, then transfer to Nianhua Bay Zen Town for the magical night light show.
Day 9 – Wuxi Buddha → Suzhou → Wuzhen Water Town
See the 88-meter Grand Buddha, Lingering Garden in Suzhou, then stay overnight inside Wuzhen West Scenic Zone. Night boat ride with lanterns.
Day 10 – Wuzhen → Hangzhou
Wuzhen East Scenic Zone, West Lake highlights (Broken Bridge, Autumn Moon, Leifeng Pagoda), and evening Song Dynasty Romance performance.
Day 11 – Hangzhou Tea Culture → Shanghai Skyline
Tea-picking at Longwu Tea Village, local snacks on Hefang Street, then high-speed train to Shanghai for Bund night views.
Day 12 – Shanghai Farewell
Nanjing Road, Bund architecture, Yuyuan Garden & Temple of the City God. Transfer to Pudong Airport for departure.
Why Choose This Tour?
✔ Perfect blend of history, culture, and modern charm
✔ Small-group, English-speaking guides
✔ Exclusive experiences: night shows, water town stays, cultural immersions
✔ Seamless travel with high-speed trains & premium hotels
