Shanghai to the Dragon's Backbone - 14 days

14 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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Small Group Tour
Discover the heart of China during this 14-day tour, commencing in Shanghai. Head to Beijing, where you'll explore the Forbidden City, Great Wall and historic Hutongs. Journey on to Luoyang to witness the Longmen Caves and the Shaolin Kung Fu Temple, then marvel at Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors. After a flight to Guilin and immersive explorations of Yangshuo an...
From$3,685
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Beijing - Visit the iconic Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, explore the Hutong area of Beijing, enjoy a Chinese Acrobatic Show and taste the famous peking duck
    • Huanghuacheng Great Wall - A section of the Great Wall of China, unique for its partially submerged and picturesque portion of the wall
    • Xi'an - Experience the UNESCO listed Terracotta Warriors, Terracotta Warrior Factory, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter, City Wall and bike ride and savour a dumpling-making experience
    • Luoyang - Take a high-speed train to Luoyang, and enjoy a visit to the Longmen Caves, food hunt in Old City Shizi Street and watch Kung Fu at a Shaolin Monastery
    • Shanghai – Free time to explore the city or join an optional group tour - highlights include the Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, The Bund and Old Shanghai
    • Guilin - Known for its stunning limestone karsts and lush rice paddies, forming a captivating cross-pattern of natural beauty
    • Longsheng - Embark on a scenic hiking adventure in Longsheng, known as the "backbone of a dragon," and be amazed by its breathtaking rice terraces and vibrant minority villages
    • Yangshuo - Witness the remarkable transformation of Yangshuo from a modest town to a bustling tourist destination, offering captivating landscapes

What's this trip about?

    Discover the heart of China during this 14-day tour, commencing in Shanghai. Head to Beijing, where you'll explore the Forbidden City, Great Wall and historic Hutongs. Journey on to Luoyang to witness the Longmen Caves and the Shaolin Kung Fu Temple, then marvel at Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors. After a flight to Guilin and immersive explorations of Yangshuo and Longsheng, head to Shanghai and explore at your own pace.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 24 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityShanghai
End CityShanghai

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Local Immersion & Homestays

Destinations

Attractions

  • Beijing
  • Guilin
  • Luoyang
  • Shanghai
  • Xian
  • Yangshuo

Min Group Size

  • Min Group Size: 24

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 24

Trip includes

    • Daily breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners, inclusive of traditional Peking Duck dinner in Beijing and dumpling-making experience in Xi'an
    • 13 nights 4 star hotels
    • Chinese acrobatic performance
    • Highspeed train ticket to Luoyang (2nd class)
    • Xi’an - bike ride on medieval City Wall
    • Shanghai Airport arrival transfer on day 1
    • Touring of Beijing, Huanghuacheng Great Wall, Luoyang, Xi'an, Yangshuo & Guilin
    • English speaking specialist guides at local sights
    • All relevant transfers and transportation in private A/C vehicles
    • Visit to Shaolin Monastery
    • Shadow puppetry show
    • 3 economy class flights from Shanghai to Beijing, Xi'an to Guilin & Guilin to Shanghai
    • Explore Shanghai at own pace or join optional tours

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day : 1 Shanghai

Friday. Huang ying, welcome to China and the start of your holiday! Upon your arrival at Shanghai Pudong or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. The day is yours to explore and enjoy the vibrant energy of Shanghai, China's...

Day : 2 Shanghai

Shanghai - Beijing. After breakfast, enjoy time at leisure to further explore the bustling city of Shanghai. Later in the day, we'll transfer you to the airport for your flight to Beijing, with departure scheduled for around 4-5 p.m. The night is yours to travers...

Day : 3 Beijing

After breakfast, our first stop today will be the iconic Tiananmen Square, where Chairman Mao’s tomb lies and various monuments to the people are located. While we won't enter the tomb, we will get to view the exterior. Following this, we'll enter the *Forbidden C...

Day : 4 Great Wall

Today, prepare for an exciting journey to the iconic Great Wall of China. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Wall stands as an enduring symbol of Chinese civilization and ingenuity. Initially constructed for defensive purposes, it snakes an impressive 6,700 kilom...

Day : 5 Beijing

Beijing - Luoyang. After breakfast this morning, we'll head to the railway station for a comfortable 2nd class high-speed train journey to Luoyang, which will take approximately 4-4.5 hours. Luoyang is one of the four ancient Chinese capitals, renowned for its magnifi...

Day : 6 Luoyang

Today will begin with a visit to the vibrant Xiyuan Park. Here, residents gather to dance and sing, infusing the park with a lively burst of morning energy. It's an excellent opportunity to observe and perhaps even join in the joyful morning activities that reflect th...

Day : 7 Luoyang

Luoyang - Xi'an. Rise and shine! Today, we'll catch an early morning train bound for Xi'an. Upon arriving, we'll start our day with a bike ride or a leisurely walk along the Xi'an City Wall, one of the oldest and best-preserved Chinese city walls. This remarkable stru...

Day : 8 Xi'an

Our day begins with a visit to the awe-inspiring Terracotta Army and Warriors, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This remarkable collection of terracotta sculptures depicts the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. These life-sized figures were meticulously...

Day : 9-10 Xi'an

Xi'an - Guilin - Yangshuo. After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport to catch a flight to Guilin, a city renowned for its classic Chinese landscape featuring limestone karsts and picturesque rice paddies. Upon arrival, you'll meet your local guide and ...

Day : 11 Yangshuo

Yangshuo - Longsheng - Guilin. This morning, we'll embark on a scenic drive to Longsheng, often referred to as the "backbone of a dragon." As we arrive, prepare to be captivated by the breathtaking rice terraces that stretch like ribbons up the steep mountainsides. Th...

Day : 12 Guilin

Guilin - Shanghai. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Shanghai. Shanghai is a true melting pot of cultures and experiences, offering travelers an array of areas to explore. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Shanghai, where you can explore th...

Day : 13 Shanghai

Today is a day of leisure, allowing you to explore the dynamic city of Shanghai at your own pace. Whether you choose to revisit favourite spots, indulge in shopping, or uncover more of Shanghai's local experiences, you have the freedom to spend the day however you'd like to!

Day : 14 Shanghai

Thursday. Today marks the conclusion of your remarkable China adventure, full of cultural wonders and tasty delicacies. After breakfast and 12pm hotel check-out, make your own way to the airport for your onward flight.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,685
Price per day$263
Last Updated: 1/6/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
21 Mar 2025
03 Apr 2025
$4,915
28 Mar 2025
10 Apr 2025
$4,915
11 Apr 2025
24 Apr 2025
$4,915
18 Apr 2025
01 May 2025
$4,915
25 Apr 2025
08 May 2025
$4,915
02 May 2025
15 May 2025
$4,915
16 May 2025
29 May 2025
$4,835
23 May 2025
05 Jun 2025
$4,835
06 Jun 2025
19 Jun 2025
$4,835
20 Jun 2025
03 Jul 2025
$4,835

All dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 4 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers or anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. Room sharing is not available on this tour.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with On The Go Tours.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International flights and visa
    • Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$5 - 7 per day, per traveller as a tip for your guide. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture
    • Departure airport transfer
    • Entrance Fees: USD$100-120pp, paid in local currency

Accommodation

3 - 4 star
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
16+  if accompanied by an adult
Additional Information
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Trip ID
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