About this trip
This is a well-organised loop through four of China's headline cities — Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai — staying in comfortable, well-located hotels throughout. It's built for people who want to see a lot without the usual group-tour extras getting in the way.
The schedule is full and moves briskly from one city to the next, but it's designed to cut out the padding — no shopping stops, and food is a genuine part of the experience rather than an afterthought. A visit to a local family adds a bit of everyday life alongside the big sights.
With a group capped at 18, it stays small enough to feel personal while still being fully guided from start to finish.
What you'll do
- Explore Beijing's imperial history and landmarks
- Discover Xi'an's ancient heritage sites
- Take in Guilin's river and karst landscapes
- Experience Shanghai's modern skyline and street life
- Visit a local family for an unscripted look at daily life in China
- Eat well with a la carte, chef-led meals rather than set tourist menus
- No shopping stops built into the schedule
- Small group, capped at 18 travellers
- Compact itinerary — expect a full, fast-moving schedule across all four cities
Worth it if you want China's highlights in comfort with strong guides. Think twice if you're budget-conscious about optional extras or need leisurely pacing.
- Guides like Celine and Tina were genuinely excellent; some went above and beyond arranging birthday cakes and helping with evening meals.
- Hotels consistently high standard with new, spacious rooms; luggage transfers and airport check-ins smooth and well-organized throughout.
- Group sizes exceeded advertised maximums (22 vs 18 promised). Billing disputes occurred; one traveller had to pressure hard for rightful refund.
- Pace is relentless covering multiple cities in eleven days; optional night activities cost significantly extra and aren't clearly flagged upfront for budgeting.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Dec is cheapest — from £1,490, about 8% below the priciest month (Sep).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Beijing · 6 Dec – 7 Dec
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