Beautiful China with Holy Tibet
2-Week Private Tour: Beijing–Xi'an–Lhasa-Shanghai
The sample itinerary below is only one version of the possibilities. Get involved and share your thoughts to make this journey unique.
You can read our tips for tailor-making your tour to help you start, and talk to your 1-1 travel advisor to personalize your journey.
Beijing-Xi'an-Lhasa-Shanghai Tour Map
Tour 'Wow' Points
Explore aTop-Ranked Sectionof the Great Wall
Walk leisurely through the watchtowers, enjoying a superb view of the Mutianyu Great wall snaking across the mountains.
Walk into the300-Year-Old Hutongsand Discover Traditional Beijing Lifestyle
Enjoy a home-visit to a traditional hutong courtyard house and learn Chinese calligraphy. Ascend the Bell Tower and take a bird's-eye view of the hutong area.
Unveil theSecrets of the Terracotta Armyand Make Your Own Warrior
let your personal guide unlock some secrets of the world wonder and share his/her insight from a local people's point of view. Learn how to make Terracotta Warriors from a local artisan in a traditional way.
Pay Your Respects at the Pilgrim's Holy Palace,the Potala
Step up to the highest palace in the world. Witness the architectural miracle containing the regal heritage of Tibet. Listen to stories of Dalai Lamas who lived in the palace.
Enjoya Picnicon the Bank of a Sacred Lake in Tibet.
Pilgrimage to the Lake Yamdrok and enjoy a picnic on the bank with a great view of the lake.
Step into Tibetan Lifein the Less-Touristy Corners of Barkhor Street
Feel the piety of local Tibetans as you see them worship with their whole body touching the ground. Explore a local market to experience Tibetan daily life and sit in a peaceful nunnery for a cup of sweet tea that's loved by locals.
Experience Modernity and Tradition in the Most Dynamic City, Shanghai
Appreciate the elegant garden, Yu Gardn and cross the Huangpu River to travel from old Shanghai to Shanghai's Pudong New Area. Ascend Shanghai Tower and get a bird's-eye view of the entire city.
98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+
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Jenny Beijing
珍妮非常好。We visited the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. She was very accommodating and patient. more
Jul 2023, Chiara G
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Visited China from 25.06 to 03.07.2023
建立路线Beijing-Zhangjiajie-Shanghai-Beijing allowed to see the beauty and versatility of the country. Masha Zhou helped us organize the trip. China amazed and fell in love with itself! The clear organization and constant support from Masha and accompanying guides was on top. We will definitely come back again! more
Jul 2023, Andrey
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Had a fantastic tour of Beijing
Our tour guide Bruce was fantastic, he went above and beyond and made our familly feel extra special.Met some terrific people and saw some fantastic things etc The Great Wall of China, The Forbidden city,Summer Palace,Temple of Heaven learnt a lot of history from Bruce,made our Beijing's trip excellent,Thanks,Bruce and Thanks China Highlights,We would highly recommend China Highlights to everyone more
Jul 2023, Pavan C
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3 days in Beijing
We had a wonderfull 3 day in Bejing with our guide Jack. He was very knowledgeable about Beijing and the many sites we visited, he recommended restaurants, and dishes to try and areas near my hotel that I could visit in the evenings. more
Jul 2023, Vlad Verzea
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Great experience on the Great Wall
I have been traveling the world for the last 7 months doing many bucket list experiences and this was know exception , We were picked up on time which is critical being we only had 2 days too complete a hike on the Great Wall .Simon our guide greeted us with a happy welcome to China , we were from that moment comfortable and confident our two days with him would be better than our expectations. We hiked in two different regions and the only way to do the best of the wall is walk the old section and enjoy the next 3 hours or so depending on your pace of walking . Seeing the original wall weathered by hundreds of years from the elements. Simon our guide was informative and very knowledgeable about the wall and surrounding areas. My experience with him and his team has exceeded my expectations , I was impressed by the professionalism he displayed and would say without hesitation go Great Wall with China highlights Regards Terence smith more
Jul 2023, Terence S
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From skepticism and nervous ness to vow !!! And incredible
这是我们第一次参观中国的家庭和我们的re bit nervous and skeptical, since we did not know the language , so after doing some effort found a agency called china highlight and booked our tour , it was like perfect arrangements from tickets to Hotel and tour guide, it was our guides who made all the difference our first destination Bejing and our tou guide was Olivia , she was like full of energy knowledge and punctual on top of that so kind and helpful , made our experience like dream , the places we went China wall , Tina man square and summer garden , our guide olive took care of everything, big tankyou to her and we would absolutely recommend if any one want to go for China trip to contact China highlights Maggie but ask for Olivia as tour guide more
Jul 2023, Arjun Wadhwani
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Tianmen Square, For Ideen city
We shared one day with Linda for Tianmen Square, forbidden city and the Hutongs. The tour was quite well organized and our kids loved Linda who always was taking care of them. more
Jul 2023, Michael B
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China highlights recommended for our first family trip to China
My family of 4 chose China Highlights for our first travel to China. The trip plan was custom designed for us by Sharon. She took into account our interests as well as lots of small tips she knew and that we couldn't have ever found by ourselves. They have big comfortable vehicles and english speaking excellent guides who are there for you since you get down the plane. My advice: China needs a top agency. It feels like a different world at the beginning. So you need somebody you can trust and turn to, 24/7 like Sharon, our planner. And guides patient enough to help you understand their culture and how to immerse in it without any confusions, and even with great food selection. more
Jul 2023, gilberto b
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High level personal service
Jack, the assigned tour guide in Beijing, also did an excellent job. He was punctual, always courteous and engaging, and above all, knowledgeable about the places we visited. He was quick to answer all our questions. At the end of the day, we all felt we had learned a great deal about Chinese history from Jack. more
Jul 2023, Mukasa Ssemakula
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China tour from being nervous to Vow and incredible
This was our first trip to China as family , we did know the language , so after doing some research on line we found china night and booked the trip to Bejing , Guilin , yongshao, shanghrao and Shanghai for 12 days , we’re bit nervous and skeptical, but it turn out to be magical tour , it was first class arrangement and tour guide Olivia who made the trip absolutely incredible and lot of credit goes to our first tour guide Olivia, she was so enthusiastic,knowledgeable and full of energy that me and my wife had a feeling of vow !!! and confidence, would definitely recoment any one would wish to take china tour to contact China high lit and particularly Olivia she made our trip so comfortable and took care everything. Big thankyou to Olivia more
Jul 2023, Arjun W
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An unforgettable tour of historical sites, the desert and the mountains
威廉是我的指南在4天的呆在北京g. He was extremely helpful in navigating through the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Mutiankou section of the Great Wall. His explanations were always very entertaining and to the point and his English was excellent. He gave great advice on where to discover Beijing cuisine, where to get the best fruits (apricots were delicious!) and what is best to do at night. My next stop was Dunhuang with the local guide Helen. She was great in identifying local desert plants (I have big interest in biology). The tour of Mogao caves turned out to be private since there were no other English speaking visitors, that's the best way to experience this magical site. Yardan Geological Park is just surreal, I highly recommend a private jeep tour of this place! While we were exploring the desert, the driver bought a cooled (!) watermelon, which was just superb after a few hours in the sun. My next stop was Xi'an with the guide Mervyn. She offered a trove of knowledge on history and museum exhibits, from taotie to bi. And my last place was Zhangjiajie with the guide David. He is a true nature lover, showing "secret" spots with superb mountain views and no people, finding frogs and birds and plants. The scenery is so out-of-this-world that it is better than in the "Avatar" movie itself. Thank you China Highlights for the once in a lifetime experience! more
Jul 2023, Dmitry I
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Could not travel
Even though I missed my train and still tried to reach Beijing through Shenzhen with no good luck. But the way miss leah Zhou helped me and was so in touch with me throughout a rough experience, commendable.She really helped me as a friend and guided me well.I could not travel but I was promised for a full refund , which for a working person like me was a huge deal. Thank you leah Zhou!! more
Jun 2023, Manisha sharma
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Unforgettable views and incredible history
Bruce was an incredible guide. Very friendly and provided so much history of the Great Wall. He also knew all the best spots to take a photo so we have some great shots. If I come back to Beijing, we will work with him again for sure. more
Jun 2023, Sam V.
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This hiking was amazing
This hiking was amazing. Organization was perfect since the beginning. Kimmi was answering all our questions rapidly and effectively. Once in China we found really a good team The driver and the tour guide Oliver accompanied us all the trip and they took a good care of us. They adapted to our needs always happy and smiling. Good work China Highlights! more
Jun 2023, Virginia Tapia Hompanera
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An excellent 2 days in Beijing with guide Lily
We had a great experience with China Highlights and our tour guide for the two days in Beijing, Liu Yuan (Lily), was excellent. She is friendly, professional and very knowledgeable about the Forbidden Palace, Temple of Heaven, The Great Wall and the Summer Palace. These are the places we visited with her. She is patient and didn't rush us at all. She adapted the tour activities and schedule to accommodate our interests and side trips such as Bei Hai Park. She is also very helpful: she took the extra time to walk us to the pizza restaurant in a mall which we would not have found on our own. We appreciate everything Lily did for us and highly recommend her. more
Jun 2023, Flamenco64
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I booked on short notice and Roger was…
I booked on short notice and Roger was very quick in responding and planning the shedule to our wishes. Our guide was very friendly and we got along great and our driver very polite. Unfortunately due to a lot of traffic our shedule was affected but we were not hurried and could enjoy our 2 destination Greta wall and the Summer Palace. I would recommend booking with China Highlights! more
Jun 2023, Clemens
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Great Wall China
It has been a unique experience from start to finish. Our tour guide Oliver made it possible, very prepared and always up to the task, always very responsible and capable of keeping our interest at all times. Thank you Oliver for this very special and unforgettable experience. more
Jun 2023, Maytee
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Great experience in Bejing with Jack
We had an amazing experience with China Highlights and our Bejing Guide Jack. We travelled through China for two weeks with two small kids (3-5) and all the China Highlights Guides and Drivers went out of their way to make this a memorable experience. Jack and our driver Mr. Lee in Bejing were amazing and we had a wonderful time here. The kids loved the great wall and the topoganing down, the face painting and the rikscha ride - and we loved all the sights. Jack and Mr. Lee were very patient with us and the kids and we managed to see everything in a relaxed fashion. We can highly recommend China Highlights and Jack and Mr. Lee. more
Jun 2023, Leo
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Best Tour Company
Olivia was our guide throughout the tour.During the actual tour, Olivia was exceptional and provided us with great insights into the sights and history as well as stories about Chinese culture and experiences (I now have to visit more places in China!). Her restaurant recommendations were amazing and I will definitely trust her to find great food options. She even showed us to our train gate at the end! more
Jun 2023, Pranam P
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3 day tour of Beijing with Tom
We had a 3 day tour of Beijing with our amazing tour guide Tom. He is super knowledgeable, and we learned a lot from him about the interesting history of everything we saw. He also took great care of us and made sure we had everything we needed to be comfortable. I highly recommend Tom! more
Jun 2023, Raghav
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Landing in Beijing, you will be met by your private guide and driver who will transfer you to your hotel.
Your guide will assist you with your luggage and help you to check in at your hotel for a worry-free start to your stay.
Hotel options:
Novotel Beijing Peace (4-star)
Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town (5-star)
Start your tour with walking through the largest world-famous square,Tian'anmen Square, and then arrive atthe Forbidden City.
With countless houses, chambers, and halls, the Forbidden City was not only a royal residence but is a treasure trove for many cultural relics. Your knowledgeable private tour guide will bring the history to life for you.
Enjoy some Beijing cuisine for lunch. Afterward, take a shortrickshaw ride in the hutongsand find out how the local people live their daily lives.
Tips to Tailor-Make Your Tour
Interested in folk arts? We can arrange for you to spend a couple of hours with a local artist trying out some old handicrafts, such as mask painting for the Peking opera, paper cutting, or Chinese calligraphy.
Feel free to let us know if you would like to add it to your itinerary.
Spend your morning at theTemple of Heaven, which was where emperors prayed for a good harvest. Arrive early to see the locals practicing martial arts and doing other activities that you may never see in your country.
Visitthe Great Wallafter lunch. The Mutianyu section is an all-time favorite because of its close distance to Beijing, top ranking on TripAdvisor, and easy accessibility.
Usually, we recommend a round-trip cable car so that you can save energy to have a relaxing walk on the wall. We can also arrange a chair lift up and a toboggan back down depending on your preferences.
Tips to Tailor-Make Your Tour
For a unique experience, a visit to Simatai, the only Great Wall section that's lit up and open at night, is highly recommended.
If you love hiking, we can arrange a 2-hour, 4-hour, or even multi-day wild Great Wall hiking experience for you.
TheSummer Palace, as indicated by its name, provided the royal court with cool surroundings thanks to its lush gardens, beautiful pavilions and theaters, and a big lake for boat trips.
Take a bullet train from Beijing to Xian. Experience the high-speed railway of China. Get on and enjoy the speedy yet steady journey.
Hotel options:
Grand Noble Hotel Xi'an (4-star)
Wyndham Grand Xi'an South (5-star)
In the morning, uncover the mysteries of an underground army that dates back to 206 BC atthe Terracotta Army Museum.
Did you know that all the terracotta warriors were originally colored? The old paint has faded with time yet the craftsmanship still shines. You will try to make your own terracotta warrior inside a traditional cave dwelling.
After lunch, return to the city area and visitXi'an City Wall,Walking along the ancient wall provides a good view of the city. You can also rent a bike to cycle around the wall.
Pay a visit to the starting point of the Silk Road:Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Discover more of Xi'an and China's ancient history atShaanxi History Museum.
Meet up with a family in town. They will teach you how tomake dumplings on your own, which are just as good, if not better than, those from Manchu Wok or Panda Express.
Then head to theMuslim Quarterand wander through the alleys to taste the local Muslim cuisine.
Your guide and driver will see you off at Xi'an. Catch the flight to Lhasa, which takes about 4½ hours. You will arrive in the holy region of Tibet in the afternoon.
Lhasa is at an altitude of 3,650 meters (12,000 feet) and you may experience altitude sickness. The rest of the day is for you to take a rest at your hotel.
Hotel options:
Thangka Hotel (4-star)
InterContinental Lhasa Paradise (5-star)
Start your Lhasa tour withNorbulingka, the living quarters of the Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of the Potala Palace. It is also called Tibet's Summer Palace and it means "Jeweled Park" in the Tibetan language. With lovely plants in the garden, you may breathe more comfortably due to the extra oxygen.
Then, you will visit the famousDrepung Monastery. Surrounded by the dark faces of mountains, its grand white buildings stand out, shining in the sunlight.
The last Lhasa tour attraction for the day isSera Monastery,comprising a great sutra chanting hall, a college, and 32 sections. You might see the monks' debate in the afternoon
VisitJokhang Templein the morning and you will see lots of devoted pilgrims prostrating themselves.
ExploreBarkhor Streetincluding its local market, admire traditional Tibetan architecture, and take afternoon tea in peacefulAni Tsangkhung Nunnery, all the while getting to know the history of Lhasa and its people's daily life.
Pilgrimage to thePotala Palace, which is a symbol of peace and a great masterpiece of Tibetan architecture.
Ascend to this majestic palace and see exquisite murals, decorated statues, and antiques. The red and white palace buildings combined with the pure blue sky form the most iconic picture of Tibet.
After breakfast, you will be driven for about 2 hours to reachYamdrok Lake,one of the top four Buddhist holy lakes in Tibet.
If the weather permits, we will preparea picnic by the lakeside和你会有三明治、蔬菜和fruit while you enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the lake, which is decorated by many islands and natural resources.
You will take a long flight of 5 hours from the west of Tibet to the east of Shanghai. The flight will stop over in Chengdu or Xi'an.
If you are interested in giant pandas, it may be a good idea to extend your stay for 1 or 2 days in Chengdu.
Hotel options:
Sunrise On The Bund (4-star)
InterContinental Lhasa Paradise (5-star)
During the day, your guide will show you different aspects of the prosperous city. To enjoy the cultural beauty of China in Yu Garden. To learn about the history of Shanghai,the Bund目睹了让步仙女的变化od in the Qing Dynasty to modern times.
To feel the city beat, stand at the top ofShanghai Towerand look around you — you may not believe this is China.
Half-Day Customized Icing-on-the-Cake Experience
After traveling in China for around 10 days, you might want to do something different at the end of your tour. Do you want to have some relaxation time? Do you have any unfulfilled trip wishes? In the magic city of Shanghai, your private guide will make your wishes come true!
Whether you want to relax, experience fashion, appreciate art, explore folk customs, or shop; from having fun in fancy bar to exploring an art center, trying nail beauty, testing your popularity in the marriage market, or just buying some lovely gifts, we will make it happen. Just tell us what you're interested in.
If you don't know what you want, just let your guide make the arrangements. You will not be disappointed!
Trip Notes
Every element of the tour above can be tailored. Feel free to tell us your ideas and we will be happy to make adjustments for you.
1. Extend the Tour
- Suzhou and/or Hangzhou:add 1–4 days — water towns, gardens, the Grand Canal, and West Lake
- Chengdu:add 2–3 days — a panda keeper program, have your photo taken next to a panda, and the Leshan Giant Buddha
- Hong Kong:add 2–3 days — Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Disneyland, and a day-tour of Macau
- Free days:Yangshuo and Shanghai are popular destinations to add one or more free days to explore on one's own.
- More destinations:Zhangjiajie, Huangshan, and Tibet... Inform us of your interests and we will offer you some recommendations.
2. Accommodation
Various types of accommodation are available, including famous 5-star hotel chains, 4-star hotels in the best locations, good value 3-star hotels, or boutique hotels that reflect the style of the region. Whatever your accommodation preferences are, our travel experts will seek out and find the perfect one for you.
Most hotels in China allow at most three people in one room. If there are more than three people in your group, we will check if there is family room available or do our best to arrange interconnecting rooms or adjoin rooms.
3. Transportation
China is a huge country, so to make your travel experience more efficient, we usually arrange flights to connect your destinations.
China's high-speed rail network is a fast-paced way to travel. We recommend taking high-speed trains for journeys of less than 6 hours to interested customers — please tell us if you are one of them.
4. Meals
Lunches at popular local restaurants are included for you so you can taste authentic Chinese food. Your guide will assist you with ordering the dishes.
Vegetarian, halal, kosher, Indian, or gluten-free — all your dietary requirements can be taken care of by our experienced private guides. Let us know if you have any of these dietary requirements during your booking.
5. Tibet Travel Permit
You will need a Tibet Entry Permit. Its cost is included in the tour quotation. Send your passport and China visa copies to us 20 days in advance, and we will apply for your permit once you book a Tibetan tour with us.
Tour Price
Price includes:
Start planning your tailor-made tour now. Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.