Name: Beijing, Yangshuo & Shanghai: China in Contrast
Brand: WildChina
SKU: 1
Price: 6109
Availability: InStock

From the Forbidden City’s imperial grandeur to Yangshuo’s dramatic karst peaks to Shanghai’s gleaming skyline, this journey reveals the many faces of contemporary China.

About this Journey

Explore China’s most iconic destinations on this 10-day September journey through Beijing, Yangshuo, and Shanghai. Wander through the Forbidden City and ancient hutongs, experience the dramatic karst landscapes of Yangshuo on bamboo rafts, and discover Shanghai’s blend of colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers. From imperial heritage to natural wonders to urban innovation, this small group tour showcases China’s greatest contrasts and most unforgettable experiences.

What we love

Discovering ancient imperial grandeur in Beijing's Forbidden City and historic hutong neighborhoods
Floating through dramatic karst landscapes on bamboo rafts down the Yulong River
Ascending to Shanghai's skyline from one of the world's fastest elevator in Shanghai Tower

Map

Itinerary

Day 1Beijing

Upon arrival in Beijing, meet your WildChina guide and enjoy some leisure time before the welcome dinner • Savor a Peking duck dinner in one of Beijing’s oldest kaoya restaurants.

Day 2Beijing

Explore the Forbidden City, where emperors ruled for five hundred years • Wander through Beijing’s hutongs and watch cricket fighting as a true Beijinger.

Day 3Beijing

Drive to Jinshanling, the outskirts of Beijing, and take a short gondola ride up the mountain • Hike along the Great Wall at Jinshanling, one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world, and enjoy a private champagne picnic.

Day 4Beijing - Yangshuo, via Guilin

FlyHead to the airport for the next flight to Guilin to Guilin • Enjoy the scenic route during the 1.5 drive from Guilin to Yangshuo • Witness the epic Impression Liu Sanjie, a spectacular outdoor performance of ethnic song and dance directed by Zhang Yimo, set against a natural amphitheater.

Day 5Yangshuo

Learn basic techniques of the meditative and martial art from a taiji master • Visit the Ruyi Mountain, a stunning showcase of the region’s world-famous karst landscape, named for its distinct shape that mirrors the traditional Chinese “ruyi” scepter, an ancient symbol of good fortune • Glide down the tranquil Yulong River on a bamboo raft, taking in the karst peaks and lush scenery.

Day 6Yangshuo

Explore Yangshuo’s bustling city market, navigating through vendors selling fresh produce, meats, and prepared foods • Discover Yangshuo’s picturesque countryside on a relaxing sidecar ride, stopping at hidden viewpoints • In a traditional courtyard home, enjoy tea and learn to prepare traditional Yangshuo delicacies.

Day 7Yangshuo - Shanghai, via Guilin

Head to the airport for the next flight to Shanghai • Stroll down the Bund, rising majestically across the river from Shanghai’s electric skyline.

Day 8Shanghai

Get to know Shanghai’s local life at Fuxing Park, once a private Ming Dynasty park • Discover the blend of old and new in Xintiandi, where restored facades hide international eateries, boutiques, and bars • Explore the elegant streets of the Former French Concession, steeped in colonial charm and once home to Shanghai’s elite • Soar to the top of Shanghai Tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings, and experience breathtaking panoramic views of the city • Witness awe-inspiring feats performed by the death-defying ERA2 acrobats.

Day 9Shanghai

Join a knowledgeable guide for a tour of Shanghai’s breakfast stalls and market • Explore the historic Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai, home to two precious Buddhist statues dating back to 1882 • Get lost in a colorful maze of Ming Dynasty-era alleyways filled with souvenir shops, street snacks, and the irresistible aroma of freshly made xiao long bao • Discover the philosophy and artistry behind this classical Chinese garden on a guided walk with a horticulturalist, exploring moon gates, rockeries, and symbolic plants like pine, lotus, and ancient ginkgo.

Day 10Depart from Shanghai

Your WildChina guide will help you check in for your departure flight.

Hotels

The Peninsula Beijing

5 star

The only all-suite hotel in the capital, The Peninsula Beijing sits a short stroll from Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the bustling Wangfujing shopping street.

Banyan Tree Yangshuo Resort

5 star

Banyan Tree Yangshuo Resort blends luxury and nature with Li River views, spa treatments, gourmet dining, and serene karst mountain surroundings.

The Peninsula Shanghai

5 star

The Peninsula has a strong art deco influence reminiscent of 1930s Shanghai with luxurious rooms, restaurants and a rooftop bar overlooking the Bund.

Photos

Details

Dates for this Journey

September 13th – 22nd, 2027

What’s Included

Services of an English-speaking WildChina local guide
Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
All on-ground transfers (19-seats Coaster; luggage van when transferring) with in-transport refreshments
Beijing Airport International Arrival VIP Airport Service
Domestic flights and trains, as noted in the itinerary
All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water

What’s Excluded

International flights, plus relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
Travel and medical insurance
Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

Trip Costs

$6,109 per person

Single Supplement: +$1,961

(Please note that 6.72% Value-Added Tax (VAT) is already included in the prices above)

Next Steps

How do I secure my spot on this tour?

Please use the inquiry form on the right-hand side of this page or email [email protected]. If you’d like to customize a private pre or post trip to explore more of China, please let us know and we’d be happy to work with you on that!

Once you are ready to book, a $500 USD per person planning fee is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your total trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

Is this trip guaranteed to run?

We will need a minimum sign up of six travelers to run this trip (maximum sign up is ten). Should the journey be canceled due to lack of sign-ups or for any other reason, WildChina will fully refund any deposits or fees paid.

What is your cancellation policy?

See our full booking conditions here.

Why WildChina

We’re on the ground with you

During the planning phase, our team of specialist travel advisors based in China will design every detail of your trip with you. When you’re on the ground, they will then orchestrate your entire journey, maintaining close contact with each of your guides throughout your trip to ensure you’re having the best journey possible. With offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we are committed to ensuring that your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking complement. With over two decades of experience, we’ve run just about every type of journey you can imagine. No request is too strange, too extreme, or too exclusive. Our team regularly pulls off unprecedented logistical feats; nearly any time frame or budget is within our realm. No matter how you wish to experience China, we are here to bring that dream to life.

We embody passion

WildChina’s guides are carefully handpicked for their knowledge and charisma, then meticulously trained to maintain our exceptional service standards. They are expert storytellers and passionate natives of the regions where they guide, having the perfect combination of local insights and service know-how to bring you seamless once-in-a- lifetime moments all across China.

The little things, the big picture

We firmly believe that supporting local people and economies allows you to experience the soul of a destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s cultures. From watching artisans’ hand–make shoes in Yunnan, to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm in Fujian, our tours are designed to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.

Beijing, Yangshuo & Shanghai: China in Contrast

Have questions?