11-Day China's Golden Triangle Tour with Yangtze Cruise

Upon arrival at Beijing Capital or Daxing International Airport, your local guide and private driver will meet you at the arrivals hall and escort you to your hotel in downtown Beijing. Enjoy a comfortable transfer with assistance for your luggage while your guide offers an introduction to the city and practical tips for your stay. The rest of the day is free to recover from your journey, explore the surrounding neighborhood, or enjoy local dining at your own pace.

Meet your private guide and driver at your hotel for a full day exploring Beijing's imperial heritage. Begin at Tiananmen Square, where your guide will explain its significance in modern Chinese history, before entering the Forbidden City to discover grand ceremonial halls, palace courtyards, and the stories of Ming and Qing emperors. Continue to the Temple of Heaven, learning about the rituals and architectural symbolism associated with imperial ceremonies, then visit the Summer Palace to admire Kunming Lake, elegant pavilions, and traditional garden landscapes. Enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant recommended according to your dietary requirements and food preferences, before your private driver returns you to the hotel or your arranged evening destination.

Optional Excursions

Gui Jie After Dark: Beijing’s Nightlife & Flavors

Visit Gui Jie after dark, when the lanterns are lit and the restaurants and late-night food stalls are full. Sample local specialties and see one of Beijing's best-known food streets at its busiest.

+$80.00

Advisor quoted

Your private guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and take you beyond central Beijing for a day combining ancient history and modern landmarks. At the Mutianyu Great Wall, explore historic ramparts and watchtowers while your guide explains the Wall's defensive role and architectural achievements, with time to enjoy panoramic mountain views at your own pace. Continue to the Ming Tombs to learn about imperial burial traditions and the legacy of the Ming dynasty. After a lunch break at a local restaurant recommended to suit your dietary needs and preferences, return toward the city to see the Bird's Nest and Water Cube at Olympic Green from the outside. Your driver will then take you back to your hotel after a full day of sightseeing.

Optional Excursions

Mutianyu Cable Car & Toboggan Upgrade

Upgrade your Mutianyu Great Wall experience with a cable car ride up and a toboggan slide descent. Reach the Great Wall comfortably, enjoy panoramic mountain views along the way, and end your visit with an exciting ride down the hillside.

+$20.00

Advisor quoted

Mutianyu VIP Experience

A premium way to see the Mutianyu Great Wall: priority access, a private shuttle, and a round-trip cable car over the mountains, followed by a complimentary tea break after you've walked the Wall.

+$150.00

Advisor quoted

After breakfast, check out of your Beijing hotel and meet your private guide and driver for a final glimpse of the capital's traditional neighborhood life. Explore Nanluoguxiang, where narrow alleyways, courtyard homes, and small local shops reveal the character of old Beijing. Your guide will share stories about hutong culture and how these historic neighborhoods have evolved, with optional experiences such as a traditional rickshaw ride available on request. If time permits, enjoy a visit to a local morning market before taking a lunch break at a restaurant suited to your dietary requirements and personal preferences. Your driver will then transfer you to Beijing railway station, where your guide will help coordinate your departure arrangements for the high-speed train to Xi'an. Upon arrival, meet your local representative or driver for the transfer to your hotel.

Optional Excursions

Explore Beijing’s Morning Market

See Beijing wake up at a local morning market, where colorful stalls, fresh produce and street food show the city's everyday rhythm. Walk the market, taste the local food, and get a look at daily life away from the tourist sites.

+$0.00

Advisor quoted

Hutong Rickshaw Ride

Take a traditional rickshaw ride through Beijing’s hutongs. Relax as you travel along narrow alleys, admire courtyard homes, and experience the history, culture, and authentic charm of old Beijing’s traditional neighborhoods.

+$15.00

Advisor quoted

Morning Moves with Beijing’s Neighborhood Locals

As the old city wakes up, Gulou Cultural Square becomes a neighborhood gathering spot for morning dancers, tai chi enthusiasts, and longtime residents. Step into their daily routine, try a few dance steps, or join a gentle group exercise session. No experience needed—just a little curiosity and a willingness to start your Beijing morning like a local.

+$0.00

Advisor quoted

Meet your private Xi'an guide and driver at your hotel for a day exploring the city's extraordinary history and cultural traditions. Visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum, where thousands of life-sized clay soldiers and horses stand in formation to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor. Your guide will explain the archaeological discoveries, military organization, and craftsmanship behind this remarkable site. Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, an important Buddhist landmark associated with the history of Chinese Buddhism and the Silk Road. Take a lunch break at a local restaurant recommended around your dietary needs and preferences, then enjoy a traditional Xi'an dumpling banquet and an optional Tang Dynasty cultural performance in the evening, according to your confirmed arrangements. Your driver will provide transportation between the day's visits and back to your hotel.

Optional Excursions

Create Your Own Terracotta Warrior: DIY Workshop

Create your own Terracotta Warrior in this fun 30-minute hands-on workshop inspired by the Qin Dynasty’s ancient craftsmanship. Perfect for all ages, this activity offers a unique cultural experience and memorable souvenir.

+$15.00

Advisor quoted

Terracotta Warriors specialist interpretation upgrade

Add a deeper archaeology-focused interpretation at the Terracotta Warriors, with extra context on the pits, restoration work, and Qin dynasty burial culture.

+$85.00

Advisor quoted

Begin the day with your private guide and driver at your Xi'an hotel before visiting the Ancient City Wall, one of China's best-preserved urban fortifications. Walk along the broad ramparts and admire views of the old and modern city while your guide explains the wall's history and role in protecting Xi'an. If you prefer a more active experience, an optional bicycle ride offers another way to explore the historic structure. After sightseeing, enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant recommended according to your dietary preferences, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, your local driver will meet you and take you to your hotel, allowing you to settle in comfortably before the next stage of your Yangtze River journey.

Optional Excursions

Xi'an City Wall Bike Ride

If you find yourself with some extra time, a bike ride along the Ancient City Wall is an exhilarating way to enhance your Xi'an experience. This activity allows you to pedal around one of the best-preserved city walls in China, offering a unique and active exploration of its expansive ramparts.

+$7.00

Advisor quoted

After breakfast and the scheduled transfer arrangements in Chongqing, continue to the cruise terminal to board your Yangtze River cruise ship. Once aboard, settle into your cabin and enjoy the changing river scenery as the cruise begins its journey through China's spectacular Three Gorges region. Depending on the confirmed sailing schedule, enjoy a shore excursion to Fengdu, known for its traditional temples, folklore, and the legends associated with the Ghost City on Mingshan Hill, or visit a relocation village connected with the Yangtze's changing landscape. Your cruise program may also include Shibaozhai, famous for its striking wooden pagoda built against a rocky hill. Excursion arrangements and onboard services will follow the cruise operator's confirmed schedule, giving you time to enjoy both cultural visits and the peaceful river journey.

Continue your Yangtze River cruise through some of China's most dramatic river landscapes. Depending on the confirmed cruise itinerary and water conditions, join an excursion along the Daning River Small Gorges, where steep cliffs, narrow waterways, and lush scenery create an intimate perspective on the region's natural beauty. Return to the main river to pass through Qutang Gorge, known for its imposing cliffs and dramatic entrance, followed by the winding scenery of Wu Gorge. Your cruise's excursion staff or local guide will introduce the landscape, historical stories, and cultural traditions associated with the river. If White Emperor City is included in the day's schedule, explore this historic site known for its links to Chinese poetry and Three Kingdoms history before returning to the ship for the next stage of your voyage.

Enjoy the final stage of your Yangtze River journey before continuing to Shanghai. Follow the confirmed cruise disembarkation arrangements and visit the Three Gorges Dam, an extraordinary engineering project that transformed river navigation and hydroelectric power generation along the Yangtze. Your local guide will explain the dam's construction, scale, and impact on the surrounding region. Depending on the day's schedule, enjoy views of Xiling Gorge and visit Yichang Museum to learn more about local history and culture. Take a lunch break at a restaurant recommended according to your dietary needs and food preferences, then transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, your Shanghai driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel, ensuring a smooth transition from the river landscapes to China's vibrant metropolis.

Meet your private Shanghai guide and driver at your hotel for a day exploring the city's historic waterfront, classical gardens, and cultural traditions. Begin at the Bund, where your guide will introduce the architectural heritage of the historic waterfront and point out the striking contrast with Pudong's modern skyline across the Huangpu River. Continue to Yuyuan Garden to admire traditional pavilions, rockeries, and peaceful courtyards, then visit the Jade Buddha Temple to learn about its Buddhist traditions and religious significance. Enjoy a lunch break at a local restaurant recommended to match your dietary requirements and personal tastes, before visiting a silk workshop or factory to learn about China's silk-making heritage and craftsmanship. After the day's sightseeing, your driver will take you back to your hotel.

Optional Excursions

Huangpu River Day Cruise

Upgrade to Huangpu River daytime cruise passing the Bund, Lujiazui and North Bund. Your guide narrates Shanghai riverside history. The open deck with natural light provides ideal photo spots for a panoramic view blending classic architectures and skyscrapers.

+$19.00

Advisor quoted

World’s Largest Starbucks Reserve Roastery Experience

Visit the world’s largest Starbucks Reserve Roastery located on West Nanjing Road, Shanghai – bigger than the original Seattle flagship. This one-of-a-kind venue functions like an exclusive coffee museum, showcasing the full coffee roasting process, rare global coffee beans and exclusive limited-edition merchandise. Your experience includes one signature in-store coffee drink to enjoy while exploring this iconic landmark before wrapping up your Shanghai trip.

+$15.00

Advisor quoted

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out and preparing for your onward journey. At the agreed time, your private driver will meet you at the hotel, assist with your luggage, and transfer you to Shanghai Pudong International Airport or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport according to your departure arrangements. Your pick-up time will be coordinated with your flight schedule to allow sufficient time for check-in and airport formalities. Relax during your final transfer as your journey through Beijing's imperial landmarks, Xi'an's ancient wonders, the Yangtze River's dramatic scenery, and Shanghai's vibrant city life comes to a comfortable close.