11-Day Shanghai, Huangshan, Xi’an & Beijing Group Tour: Yellow Mountain, Terracotta Warriors & China’s Classic Highlights

Itinerary Summary: Arrive in Shanghai – Airport Pick-up – Hotel Check-in – Free Time

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: No Food

Your driver will meet you at Shanghai airport and transfer you to your hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is free for you to rest or explore nearby areas at your own pace.

Shanghai is a city where traditional neighborhoods and modern architecture exist side by side. If you have energy after your flight, you can take a relaxed walk around the hotel area and experience everyday city life, from local shops and street food stalls to the illuminated skyline.

With an experienced local team arranging your arrival transfer, you can begin your China journey without worrying about airport transportation or language barriers.

Itinerary Summary: Shanghai City Tour – Shanghai Museum – Yu Garden & Bazaar – Nanjing Road – The Bund – Shanghai Tower

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will explore the contrast between old Shanghai and the modern city through its most representative landmarks.

The tour begins at the Shanghai Museum, known for its collection of Chinese art and historical artifacts. You will then visit Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden built during the Ming Dynasty, and explore the surrounding Yuyuan Bazaar, where traditional architecture meets local shopping streets.

Continue to Nanjing Road and The Bund, where you can see Shanghai’s famous waterfront skyline and historic buildings influenced by different architectural styles. The day ends at Shanghai Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world, offering a different perspective of this global financial centre.

Your guide will explain the historical connections between these places, helping you understand how Shanghai developed from a traditional port city into a modern metropolis.

Itinerary Summary: Shanghai to Huangshan – High-Speed Train – Station Pick-up – Hotel Check-in

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, take a high-speed train from Shanghai to Huangshan. Upon arrival, your local driver will meet you at the station and transfer you to your hotel.

The journey from Shanghai to Huangshan shows the changing scenery from China’s coastal metropolis to the quieter landscapes of Anhui Province. Huangshan is famous for its granite peaks, pine trees, and sea of clouds, making it one of China’s most recognized natural destinations.

Our team arranges the train transfer and local pick-up, allowing you to travel between cities comfortably without managing complicated transportation connections.

Itinerary Summary: Yellow Mountain Full-Day Tour – Huangshan Scenic Area

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will spend a full day exploring Yellow Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China’s most famous natural landscapes.

Known for its unique granite formations, twisted pine trees, and changing cloud views, Yellow Mountain has inspired generations of Chinese artists and writers. Your guide will introduce the natural features and cultural background behind the mountain’s most famous scenery.

The transfer between Huangshan city and the scenic area is arranged as part of the tour, making it easier for international visitors to focus on enjoying the mountain experience.

Itinerary Summary: Hongcun Ancient Village – Xidi Ancient Village – Tunxi Ancient Street

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will explore the traditional villages and historic streets around Huangshan, experiencing the cultural heritage of southern Anhui.

The first stops are Hongcun Ancient Village and Xidi Ancient Village, both listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These villages preserve the distinctive Huizhou architectural style, featuring white walls, dark tiled roofs, ancestral halls, and carefully designed water systems. Walking through the narrow lanes allows you to see how traditional Chinese families lived and organized village life centuries ago.

You will also visit Tunxi Ancient Street, a historic commercial area in Huangshan where traditional buildings, local crafts, and regional culture continue to shape the atmosphere of the old town.

Your guide will explain the connection between architecture, local traditions, and the historical development of the Huizhou region, helping you understand why these villages remain important cultural landmarks.

Itinerary Summary: Huangshan to Xi’an – High-Speed Train – Hotel Transfer

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, take a high-speed train from Huangshan to Xi’an. Upon arrival, your driver will transfer you to your hotel.

This travel day connects two very different parts of China. Huangshan represents China’s natural landscapes and traditional rural culture, while Xi’an introduces you to the history of ancient Chinese capitals and the Silk Road.

Xi’an was the capital of several important dynasties and played a key role in cultural exchanges between China and the outside world. Your arranged transfer service allows you to complete this long-distance journey comfortably.

Itinerary Summary: Terracotta Warriors – Ancient City Wall – Bell Tower (or Drum Tower)

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will discover Xi’an’s ancient civilization through some of China’s most important historical landmarks.

The highlight of the day is the Terracotta Warriors, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Created over 2,000 years ago to protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife, the thousands of life-sized figures provide valuable insight into the military organization, craftsmanship, and beliefs of the Qin Dynasty.

You will then visit the Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved ancient city walls in China, where you can see how historical cities were designed for both protection and daily life.

The tour continues to the Bell Tower or Drum Tower, important symbols of Xi’an’s ancient urban layout.

With a knowledgeable local guide, you will learn not only what these sites are, but also why they played an important role in Chinese history.

Itinerary Summary: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda – Muslim Quarter – High-Speed Train to Beijing

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

Before leaving Xi’an, visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, an important Buddhist landmark built during the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda was closely connected with the translation and preservation of Buddhist scriptures, reflecting Xi’an’s role as a centre of cultural exchange.

You will then explore the Muslim Quarter, a historic neighbourhood known for its traditional streets and food culture. Located along the ancient Silk Road route, Xi’an developed into a city where different cultures and traditions met.

After sightseeing, take a high-speed train to Beijing. Your transfer service at the train station helps make the connection between cities easier and more convenient.

Itinerary Summary: Tian’anmen Square – Forbidden City – Jingshan Park – Summer Palace

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will explore Beijing’s imperial history through some of China’s most important cultural landmarks.

The day begins at Tian’anmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world and a place closely connected with modern Chinese history. You will then enter the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With nearly 500 years of history as the home of Chinese emperors, the palace complex offers insight into imperial architecture, court traditions, and ancient governance.

Continue to Jingshan Park, located just north of the Forbidden City, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the palace layout. The final stop is the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of Chinese garden design, combining lakes, hills, and traditional buildings.

Your guide will help connect these landmarks with Beijing’s development as the political and cultural centre of China for centuries.

Itinerary Summary: Mutianyu Great Wall – Cable Car Round Trip – Bird’s Nest & Water Cube View

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast + Lunch

Today you will visit the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the most popular sections of the Great Wall near Beijing.

Built and expanded during different periods of Chinese history, the Great Wall represents centuries of defence strategy and engineering achievement. Mutianyu is known for its well-preserved structure, mountain surroundings, and impressive views along the wall.

The round-trip cable car service helps make the visit more comfortable, allowing you to spend more time enjoying the scenery and learning about the history of this world-famous landmark.

On the return journey, you will have an outside view of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, two iconic venues from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games that represent modern Beijing’s international image.

Itinerary Summary: Beijing Departure – Hotel Check-out – Airport Transfer

Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Hotels

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, check out from your hotel before 12:00. Your driver will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

As your China journey comes to an end, we hope the combination of historic cities, natural landscapes, and cultural experiences has given you a deeper understanding of China.

IntoTravelChina has been welcoming international travelers since 2016, with local travel knowledge, professional guides, and organized services designed for overseas visitors.