China Explorer: 12-Day Private Tour from Guangzhou to Beijing
Five iconic cities, a UNESCO-listed earthen fortress, a legendary river cruise, and the Great Wall — all on a fully private itinerary designed for curious travellers.
This China private tour takes you through five distinct cities over twelve days, blending colonial heritage, ancient dynasties, karst landscapes, and contemporary art into a single coherent journey. Each destination adds a new layer to your understanding of China's remarkable depth. The pace is relaxed, the routing is logical, and every key site is covered with a dedicated guide by your side.
The journey opens in Guangzhou, where Shamian Island's preserved colonial streetscapes and the intricate woodcarvings of Chen Family Temple set the tone for the weeks ahead. A high-speed train then carries you to Xiamen, a port city whose island setting and Hokkien cultural roots make it one of southern China's most distinctive stops. From there, a day trip to the UNESCO-listed Hakka earthen houses at Hua'an introduces a form of communal architecture unlike anything else in the country.
Guilin and the Li River section of the tour delivers China's most celebrated natural scenery, with a four-hour cruise past limestone karsts, bamboo groves, and fishing villages leading into the lively lanes of Yangshuo. Shanghai brings a sharp contrast, layering Art Deco along the Bund with Ming-dynasty garden design at Yu Garden and the quiet radicalism of the Propaganda Poster Museum. The final chapter unfolds in Beijing, where the Forbidden City, the hutong backstreets, and the water-submerged section of the Great Wall at Huanghuacheng round out an itinerary that covers China without rushing it.
Tour Highlights
Walk the tree-lined avenues of Shamian Island in Guangzhou, where more than 150 colonial-era buildings survive largely intact from the 19th century.
Visit the UNESCO-listed Hakka earthen houses at Hua'an, circular and rectangular fortified structures that represent a unique tradition of communal defensive living.
Cruise the Li River from Zhujiang Wharf to Yangshuo, a journey ranked among the world's top ten watery wonders by National Geographic.
Explore the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the paired epicentre of five centuries of imperial rule and modern Chinese history.
Hike the Huanghuacheng Great Wall, known as the Water Great Wall for the two lakes into which its towers descend, one of the most scenic and least crowded sections near Beijing.
Tour Gulangyu Island, known as Piano Island, where a population of 20,000 keeps 5,000 pianos and a dedicated museum houses instruments dating back centuries.
Visit Beijing's 798 Art District, a former East German-built industrial complex transformed since the 1990s into China's leading contemporary art and design hub.
Itinerary Overview
Arrive in Guangzhou and, if time allows, walk Shamian Island's Victorian streetscapes on the same afternoon. Day 2 covers the Chen Family Temple's elaborate woodcarvings and a visit to the centuries-old Xiaozhou Village before a high-speed train to Xiamen.
Day 3 takes you inland to the UNESCO-listed Hua'an Hakka earthen house clusters and the historic port city of Zhangzhou. Day 4 is devoted to Gulangyu Island: its colonial architecture, Shuzhuang Garden, the Piano Museum, and Xiamen's celebrated street food scene.
Fly to Guilin and visit the 180-million-year-old Reed Flute Cave and the landmark Elephant Trunk Hill. The following day, board a cruise ship for a four-hour float down the Li River to Yangshuo, with time to browse West Street before returning to Guilin.
Fly to Shanghai and spend the first evening walking the Bund after a visit to the Propaganda Poster Museum. Day 8 covers Yu Garden, the Jade Buddha Temple, and a stroll through the former French Concession's architectural streets.
Travel by high-speed train to Beijing and visit the Temple of Heaven on arrival. Day 10 brings Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, a hutong walking tour, and a stop at the Miaoying Temple White Stupa.
Hike the Huanghuacheng Great Wall section, where the wall meets two reservoir lakes, then explore the 798 Art District in the afternoon. Day 12 is a free morning before transfer to the departure airport.
What Is Included
Included
- Private airport and station transfers throughout
- Hotel accommodation (11 nights, breakfast daily)
- Private English-speaking guide and driver each day
- High-speed train tickets Guangzhou–Xiamen and Shanghai–Beijing (2nd class)
- Domestic flights Xiamen–Guilin and Guilin–Shanghai
- Li River cruise with simple on-board lunch
- Included lunches and dinners as stated in the itinerary
- All entrance fees listed in the itinerary
- Gulangyu Island ferry tickets
Not Included
- International flights to and from China
- Chinese entry visa fees
- Elephant Trunk Hill entrance fee (photo stop only)
- Meals not specified as included
- Yangshuo West Street shopping and personal expenses
- Xiamen street food and own-expense dining
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
Important Information
Reserve Your Private China Explorer Tour
Twelve days, five cities, and a private guide throughout — this itinerary covers the landmarks that define China while keeping the pace relaxed and the experience personal. Spaces are limited by the private nature of the tour.
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