12-Day Private China Odyssey:From Lingnan Flavors to Fantasy Valleys & Skyline Glamour

No tourist traps: tribes, cliffs, Shanghai. Works – but not luxury.

Route: Guangzhou-Guiyang-Shangrao-Shanghai
Lingnan Flavors Fantasy Valleys Skyline Glamour
  • Tour Code: CT-GGSS-12
  • Duration of the trip: 12 Days
  • Hotel: 11Nights (4+Star Hotels)
From: USD $2540   pp
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Notes:Prices may vary depending on the season and promotional activities. Please consult your advisor for details.
No tourist traps: tribes, cliffs, Shanghai. Works – but not luxury.

Why Choose lnto Explore China Group Tour

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Worry-Free Travel
With years of experience in group travel across China, we provide professional tour guides, comfortable coaches, and well-paced itineraries for a smooth and enjoyable journey.
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Itineraries with Great Value
Our tours cover China's most iconic sights and cultural highlights. All packages are clearly priced with no hidden costs, offering a high-quality experience at a competitive rate.
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No Shopping Stops
We guarantee a truly immersive journey with no shopping stop. Spend more time exploring scenic spots, enjoying authentic food, and discovering local culture
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Travel with Flexibility
Whether you're traveling solo, with friends, or as a family, you can easily join us. Enjoy better value than private tours with small groups of 6-12 people and year-round departures.

Itinerary

Explore each day’s highlights, pace, routes, hotels, meals, and photos—so you know exactly what to expect along the way.

Route Map Full route

12day 4packages
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  • Arrive in Guangzhou and Transfer to the Hotel -- Free Time
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:None

 

Welcome to Guangzhou! Upon arrival, our private guide and driver will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. After settling in, you are free to rest or start exploring the city‘s vibrant streets at your own pace. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider strolling down the historic Beijing Road to soak in the local atmosphere and perhaps try a bowl of Cantonese Wonton Noodle, a staple of Guangzhou‘s culinary scene.

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  • Canton Tower Ascension and a Dazzling Pearl River Night Cruise
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

This morning, ascend the iconic Canton Tower, affectionately known as “Slim Waist” (Xiao Man Yao). Standing at 600 meters, it offers a 360-degree unobstructed panorama of Guangzhou’s sprawling cityscape. For thrill-seekers, the highest outdoor observation deck, the Bubble Tram, and the vertical Sky Drop provide an adrenaline rush with a view.
In the evening, embark on a Pearl River Night Cruise. As night falls, watch the city‘s skyline, including the illuminated Canton Tower and Haixinsha, come alive in a dazzling display of lights and colors. This is the quintessential Guangzhou experience, perfectly capturing the city’s vibrant nightlife and urban energy.

  • A Day Trip to Qingyuan's “Little Yangshuo” and the Ancestral Chen Clan Academy
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

Escape the city bustle with a day trip to Qingyuan. Known for its stunning karst landscapes often compared to Guilin and Yangshuo, you will enjoy a scenic cruise along the Beijiang River, with dramatic limestone peaks rising majestically from the emerald waters.
Upon returning to Guangzhou, step back in time at the Chen Clan Academy (Chen Clan Ancestral Hall) . As the largest and best-preserved ancestral temple complex in Guangdong, it’s a masterpiece of Lingnan architecture. Marvel at the intricate wood, stone, and brick carvings that adorn every eave and pillar, each telling a story from Chinese folklore. After your visit, immerse yourself in local life by heading to a nearby Dim Sum restaurant. Ordering a basket of steaming Har Gow (shrimp dumplings) or Siu Mai (pork dumplings) is a rite of passage for any visitor to Guangzhou.

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Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

  • The Ancient Rice Terraces of Longji
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

After a swift morning high-speed train ride, you‘ll arrive in the picturesque city of Guilin. Your private car will then take you deep into the mountains to the breathtaking Longji Rice Terraces (Dragon‘s Backbone Terraces) . Carved into the hillsides over centuries by the Zhuang and Yao people, these terraces form a stunning, layered landscape. Depending on the season, you might see them filled with water, creating a mirror-like reflection of the sky, or vibrant with green or golden crops. For the best views, take the cable car up to the Jinkeng Dazhai area, where you can see the "Seven Stars with the Moon" landscape from above.

Longji Rice Terraces
Longji Rice Terraces
Longji Rice Terraces

  • Li River Cruise and Yangshuo's Countryside Charm
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

Today, you‘ll experience the very heart of China’s iconic scenery with a cruise along the Li River. As you drift from Guilin to Yangshuo, you‘ll be surrounded by a living ink-wash painting of mist-shrouded limestone karsts, verdant bamboo groves, and cormorant fishermen. Keep your eyes peeled for the scene printed on China’s 20 Yuan note!
In the afternoon, get closer to nature with a Yulong River Bamboo Rafting trip. This quieter, more intimate experience allows you to glide gently over the crystal-clear water, navigating small dams and enjoying the serene beauty of the riverside countryside.

 

Lijiang River Scenic Area
Lijiang River Scenic Area
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  • A Night of the Golden Dragon
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

After a leisurely morning, transfer to the train station for your high-speed journey to Shangrao. This evening, you‘re in for a truly magical spectacle: the Yangshuo Golden Dragon Parade. Watch as hundreds of bamboo rafts, connected and illuminated, form a colossal, undulating golden dragon that glides gracefully across the moonlit Yulong River. This incredible fusion of local tradition and modern light artistry is a highlight of any trip.

  • The Sun-Drying Art of Huangling and Wunvzhou’s Nighttime Wonderland
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

Your first day in Jiangxi takes you to the enchanting Huangling Ancient Village. Famous for its "Shaiqiu" (sun-drying) tradition, you‘ll see the village’s iconic Hui-style houses with colorful crops like red chilies and yellow corn drying on circular bamboo baskets against the whitewashed walls. It‘s a vibrant and uniquely Chinese agricultural spectacle.
As dusk falls, venture to Wunvzhou Resort. This is no ordinary scenic area; it’s an immersive fantasy world. Dressed in traditional architecture, the resort comes alive with spectacular nighttime light shows and a magnificent live performanceEncountering Wuyuan, which tells ancient stories against a backdrop of water and sky.

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  • Into the Xianxia World of Wangxiangu
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

Prepare to step into a Xianxia fantasy novel at Wangxiangu Scenic Area. Built dramatically into a canyon, this is a world of tumbling waterfalls and awe-inspiring cliffside guesthouses. Spend the day hiking along the canyon‘s paths and crossing its suspension bridges. As night falls, the entire valley is illuminated, transforming the cliffside structures into a glowing "celestial palace" straight out of a fairy tale. While here, be sure to try a local Shangrao snack like Lead Mountain Rice Noodles (铅山烫粉) , a flavorful local breakfast staple that’s a perfect pick-me-up.

 

Wangxian Valley
Wangxian Valley
Wangxian Valley

  • A Pilgrimage to Lingshan's Sacred Peaks
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

Explore the majestic Lingshan Scenic Area, a sacred mountain range deeply rooted in Taoist culture and known for its 72 magnificent granite peaks. You‘ll take a cable car up to the mountainside and follow a well-maintained cliffside plank road, which offers spectacular, heart-pounding views of the unique rock formations and deep valleys below. It’s a refreshing and awe-inspiring end to your time in Shangrao.

  • A Classic Evening on the Bund
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

Today, a high-speed train whisks you away to China‘s most dynamic metropolis, Shanghai. In the evening, embark on a quintessential Shanghai experience: a stroll along The Bund. As you walk along the Huangpu River, you’re treated to a spectacular contrast: the colonial-era grandeur of the Bund on one side, and the futuristic, neon-lit skyline of Lujiazui on the other. A Huangpu River Cruise at this time is the perfect way to take in this breathtaking panorama.

Huangpu River Cruise
The Bund
The Bund

  • Classical Gardens and the Magic of Disney
  • Hotel: 4+stars Hotel
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

Begin your day at the exquisite Yu Garden, a 16th-century classical Chinese garden nestled in the heart of the old city. Wander through its serene rockeries, pavilions, and ponds, and maybe indulge in some famous Nanxiang Soup Dumplings from the nearby snack street.
The rest of the day is dedicated to pure magic at Shanghai Disneyland. With a private transfer, you can maximize your time enjoying world-class attractions, from thrilling rides to enchanting shows, all culminating in the spectacular nighttime fireworks display over the Enchanted Storybook Castle.

 

Yu Garden
Shanghai Disney Resort
Shanghai Disney Resort

  • A Leisurely Farewell on Yuyuan Road and Departure
  • Hotel: None
  • Meals:Breakfast

 

On your final morning, enjoy a relaxed farewell at Yuyuan Road. This charming, tree-lined street is a hidden gem of Shanghai’s former French Concession, filled with independent cafes, boutique art studios, and unique shops, offering a quiet, artistic contrast to the city‘s grand avenues. It’s the perfect spot to grab a coffee and reflect on your incredible journey. Your private driver will then transfer you to the airport for your flight home, taking with you a lifetime of memories from China‘s magnificent cities, ancient villages, and timeless landscapes.

Included & Excluded

From USD2540 per person
  • The price is based on two people sharing a double room. If you prefer a single room, please contact us for a quote.
  • Price may vary depending on exchange rates, travel dates, and hotel class.
  • Prices may vary depending on the season and promotional activities. Please consult your advisor for details.
Price Includes:
  • Comfortable hotel with daily breakfast (twin room)
  • Professional English-speaking local tour guide
  • Air-conditioned private coach throughout the tour
  • Entrance tickets to all listed attractions and activities
  • Lunches as specified in the itinerary
  • Domestic flights and high-speed train tickets
  • One travel accident insurance per person
Price Excludes:
  • International flights to and from China
  • Airport transfer to hotel on arrival day (Day 1)
  • Optional or recommended activities
  • Chinese visa application fees
  • Tips for guides and drivers
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses (e.g. shopping, laundry, hotel minibar)

Cancellation Policy

We understand that travel plans may change. Please review our cancellation policy below:
  • Free cancellation if canceled 60 days or more before the tour starts
  • 5% of total tour cost if canceled 45-59 days before departure
  • 10% of total tour cost if canceled 30-44 days before departure
  • 25% of total tour cost if canceled 15-29 days before departure
  • 45% of total tour cost if canceled 7-14 days before departure
  • 100% of total tour cost if canceled less than 7 days before departure

Q & A

Q1: Is this tour worth it if I‘ve already been to China before?Q1: Is this tour worth it if I‘ve already been to China before?
Yes — this route covers places most first‑time visitors miss. Guangzhou’s colonial heritage and Chen Clan Academy are distinct from Beijing or Shanghai. Longji’s rice terraces, the Li River karsts, and Shangrao’s Huangling village offer scenery you won‘t find in standard itineraries. It’s a good choice for travellers looking beyond the usual highlights.
Q2: How physically demanding is this tour?
Moderate. Longji Rice Terraces involves walking on uneven stone paths and steps — comfortable walking shoes are essential. Li River cruise is mostly seated. Huangling village has stone roads and steps, so expect some uphill walking. Qingyuan‘s glass bridge can be reached by a belt conveyor to avoid stairs. You should be comfortable with daily walking, but no extreme fitness is required.
Q3: What should I pack for this trip?
Comfortable walking shoes are essential — Longji and Huangling both involve steps and uneven paths. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are recommended for the Li River cruise. A light jacket is useful for cooler evenings and air‑conditioned trains. For Qingyuan‘s water activities, bring a change of clothes. A waterproof phone pouch is also handy for the rafting portion.
Q4: What‘s the one thing most visitors don’t realize before going?
The Li River cruise requires a valid passport for ticket booking and boarding. Make sure you have it with you on that day. Also, Huangling‘s famous sun‑drying scenes are seasonal — they’re most vibrant from mid‑October to mid‑November. Outside this window, the village is still beautiful but the drying displays may be limited. Plan your travel dates accordingly if this is a priority for you.

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