• China Odyssey Tour: Culture, History & Natural Wonders

    ★★★★★

     4.9/5 658 Latest reviews

    Tour Code: ODY-CN-083

    Destination: Hong Kong, Guilin, Shanghai, Yangtze Cruise, Chengdu, Shigatse, Gyantse, Lhasa, Xi’an, Beijing

Duration

24 Days

Tour Type

Private & Bespoke

Tour Style

In-Depth

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Itinerary
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About This Trip

Enjoy China’s culture, history, and nature on this 24-day journey. Visit Beijing and Xi’an for the Forbidden City, Great Wall, and Terracotta Warriors, then explore Lhasa’s highlights, including Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and scenic Yamdrok Lake. In Chengdu, see lovely pandas and discover Leshan Giant Buddha and Mt. Emei before cruising the Yangtze River to Shanghai. You’ll then relax amidst the unique karst landscape of Guilin on a Li River Cruise, and end the tour in Hong Kong, where you’ll have much fun exploring this bustling city on your own.

Itinerary Summary

DAYPLACEHIGHLIGHTS
1 – 4BeijingForbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Hutongs
5 – 6Xi’anTerracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Street
7 – 8LhasaPotala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka Park, Sera Monastery
9Lhasa – GyantseYamdrok Lake, Palcho Monastery
10ShigatseTashilumpo Monastery
11Shigatse – LhasaYaluzangbu River
12 – 15Chengdu, LeshanChengdu: See Pandas
Leshan: Leshan Giant Buddha, Mt. Emei
16 – 18Yangtze River CruiseFengdu Ghost City, Lesser Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam
19ShanghaiThe Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum
20 – 21GuilinLi River Cruise, Yangshuo Countryside, Reed Flute Cave
22 – 24Hong KongFree to Explore the City’s Highlights
Quick Question

Itinerary

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of ancient China!

When your flight lands in Beijing airport, your private guide will greet and escort you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The rest of the day is yours to acclimatize or explore the dynamic metropolis at your own.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today you will first visit Tiananmen Square, which holds great historical and cultural significance in China. Walking through Tiananmen Gate, you will enter the magnificent Forbidden City, China’s top palace complex graced with imperial treasures. In the afternoon, continue to the Summer Palace and enjoy a 15-minute boat ride on Kunming Lake.

Optional: The amazing Chinese Kung Fu Show is highly recommended to you as an activity to enjoy tonight.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

In the morning, head to Mutianyu Great Wall by car for around 2 hours. With a round-trip cable car, you will have flexible time to hike along the wall and take photos.

Afterward, take a leisurely stroll along the quiet Sacred Road of the Ming Tombs, a royal road guarded by many vivid stone statues of divine beasts and officials. End today’s tour with a visit to the jade gallery.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

After breakfast, pay a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors in ancient times performed intricate rituals for a nationwide good harvest. Nowadays, you can also see or join the locals to do morning exercises there.

Then proceed to the hutongs, among narrow lanes and hidden corners, and get close to the daily life of Beijing people.

Later, drive to the railway station for your high-speed train to Xi’an (around 5 hours). On arrival, be transferred to the hotel by your private guide.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

The incredible Terracotta Warriors is your first stop today. Over 8,000 life-size terra soldiers and horses are an amazing form of funerary art, buried with China’s foremost Emperor Qin Shihuang to help rule another empire in the afterlife. Later, visit Xi’an Art Ceramics Factory.

In the afternoon, you will ramble atop the Ancient City Wall and Muslim Street.

Optional: In this evening, a recommendation for you is the famous Tang Dynasty Show as entertainment.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

On this day you will be free to explore this age-old city with a long history on your own before your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Lhasa.

Upon your arrival at Gonggar airport, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the hotel in Lhasa (about 1.5 hours’ drive). After hotel check-in, you’re advised to rest at your hotel to get adapted to the high altitude.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Your sightseeing today begins with Lhasa’s cardinal landmark Potala Palace. As a holy land of Tibetan culture, every day hundreds of common Tibetan trek miles and months to worship the Palace for their traditional beliefs and family’s blessing.

Later, you will admire the sacred temple Jokhang Temple, the cradle of Tibetan Buddhism and the city center of Old Lhasa, and then walk the pilgrimage route with local devotees and wheel the holy wheelers at Barkhor Street.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

After breakfast, you will tour the charming Norbulingka Park, which is known as “the Summer Palace of Tibet”, and then come to Drepung Monastery, an ancient temple once housed 10,000 monks in its heyday.

Your tour ends at Sera Monastery. Built in 1419, the monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet and quite famous for its traditional Buddhism scripture debates.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today you will be transferred from Lhasa to Gyantse (5.5-hour drive).

En route, you will stop to see Yamdrok Lake, one of three most famous holy lakes in Tibet. The scenery of turquoise blue water in the lake with the reflection of surrounding snow-capped mountains is awesome.

After arrival in Gyantse, you will tour Palcho Monastery to admire fancy frescoes, statues, and sculptures.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

After breakfast, you will be driven from Gyantse to Shigatse (1.5hours).

In Shigatse, you will visit Tashilunpo Monastery, the largest Gelugpa monastery in Tibet. Here stands the world’s largest statue of the Future Buddha, adorned with precious pearls, turquoises, corals, and amber.

Finally, proceed to a free market to experience the authentic local life.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today you will travel back to Lhasa (280 km, about 6 hours’ drive) along the legendary Yaluzangbu River, the mother river of Tibet. Along the journey, you will view the fantastic landscape of the valley and snow mountain, and get the special feeling of traveling in the outback far from modern civilization.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Free in the day until your local guide escorts you to the airport for your onward flight to Chengdu, home to the cute giant pandas.

Upon your arrival in Chengdu, your guide will meet and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

On this day, you will be driven to Leshan (2 hours) to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. Carved out of the cliffs at the confluence of Mingjiang and Qingyi River, it is the largest stone Buddha colossus in the world.

Proceed to the ancient Baoguo Temple to see its three treasures, including a 2.4-meter-high porcelain Buddha, a 25-ton bronze bell, and an exquisite Huanyan bronze tower carved with 4,700 tiny Buddha statues. Stay overnight at the foot of Mt. Emei.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, you will visit Mt. Emei, one of the four most famous Buddhist mountains in China. Firstly, take a sightseeing bus to Leidongping, and then walk to Jieyin Palace to ride a cable car to the Golden Summit, where you can have a terrific panoramic view of the mountain’s natural beauty.

Continue to tour the Wannian Temple and Qingyin Hall to gain an insight into Buddhist perspectives. After the visit, descend by cable car and take the local public bus back to Baoguo Temple Station, where your driver will be waiting to drive you back to Chengdu, about 2.5 hours.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

The tour on this day will bring you to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding before you are escorted to the railway station for your train to Chongqing.

Upon your arrival at Chongqing, your local guide will meet you at the railway station and take you to board the Yangtze River cruise ship.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

As your cruise sails along the Yangtze River, China’s longest river, you will enjoy its amazing scenery with real countryside views; meanwhile, Taiji lessons, lectures on traditional Chinese medicine and other onboard activities make your journey full of fun.

Afterward, your cruise will stop for a shore excursion to the famous Fengdu Ghost City, which depicts China’s afterlife culture via ancient sculptures and paintings. Later, continue your cruise trip.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today you will come to the Lesser Three Gorges, the most beautiful part of the Yangtze River.

You will take a sampan, a small traditional wooden boat, to appreciate the spectacular natural beauties of the famous gorges and experience a water-borne sensation you have never had before.

Re-boarding the cruise, the ballroom is a nice place to enjoy the evening.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today the last shore excursion takes you to the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric complex.

Disembark at around 12:00 noon and meet your local guide at the pier. Continue on to stroll around the local Riverside Park and visit a local market to know more information about Yichang City.

Afterward, transfer to the airport for flight to Shanghai, known as the “Paris in the East” as well as China’s largest city. Upon arrival, be met and transferred to the hotel.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

On this day, you will visit the Shanghai Museum, a museum of ancient Chinese art possessing a collection of 120,000 precious works; then take a stroll through the Yu Garden, one of the most lavish and finest Chinese gardens.

Afterward, you can observe local people’s life at the Yuyuan Market and visit the Bund which is lined with featured architectures, followed by a silk workshop. A visit to Xintiandi will let you know the old and modern Shanghai at the same time.

Optional: At night, the awesome acrobatics show is highly recommended for you.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

You will be free on this day until your personal guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Guilin.

Upon your arrival in Guilin, the most scenic city in China, your personal guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. After a little rest and lunch, you will be taken on a tour of Reed Flute Cave and Guilin South China Sea Water Pearl Museum.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

This morning, a 40-minute drive takes you to the Zhujiang Pier to embark a Li River cruise, which is the highlight of any visit to Guilin. Along the river, you will be inspired by breathtaking views of peaks and pinnacles, crystal-clear water and picturesque pastoral views of rice paddies and water buffaloes.

After disembarkation, you’ll first be transferred to your hotel in Yangshuo. Later, enjoy a countryside tour (by bike or by car, 1-2 hours) and feel the laid-back ambiance with beautiful views.

Optional: The show of Impression Sanjie Liu, a fabulous show that combines the landscape with minority dancing is highly recommended for you tonight.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, you will be driven back to Guilin airport for your flight to your next destination – Hong Kong. Upon your arrival in Hong Kong, a vibrant metropolis, make your own way to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Today, you will explore Hong Kong’s unique blend of Chinese heritage and colonial influences on your own.

🍽 Local dining

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▱ Beijing

Free in the day, and you will arrange your own transportation to the airport for your homebound flight.

🍽 Local dining

◷ Flexible timing

▱ Beijing

Why Choose Inner Mongolia Jiuhong Travel Service Co., Ltd.

12-Year TripAdvisor Award

Travellers’ Choice winner every year since 2013

No Commission Shopping

Zero shopping stops, zero pressure, zero hidden agendas

100% Private

Every tour is exclusively yours — no strangers, no shared buses

Expert Local Guides

Licensed, English-speaking guides with deep local knowledge

Real reviews from real travellers

  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eI highly recommend Inner Mongolia Jiuhong Travel Service Co., Ltd. The team is very easy to work with, has excellent ideas and the guides are knowledgeable and easy to be with. Very solid itineraries and execution — flexible, high quality, and great value for money.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    James T.
    Verified · TripAdvisor
  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eWe visited both Xi’an and Shanghai under Jiuhong’s arrangement and received the same first-class service in both cities. The guides were knowledgeable, flexible, and happy to discuss all aspects of modern China — giving insights difficult to obtain elsewhere. Strongly recommended.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    Greenfly
    Couples · Verified · TripAdvisor
  • u003cemu003eu003cemu003eWe had a wonderful action-packed day. Fei Fei was amazing — her knowledge was very impressive and she was a real pleasure to be with. This was certainly the highlight of our stay in this beautiful city. Thanks so much.u003c/emu003eu003c/emu003e
    Ludovic V.
    Couples · London, UK · Verified · TripAdvisor

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