9-Day Private China Escape: Imperial Grandeur & Hidden Gems(Beijing, Guilin, Shanghai)

Your private driver greets you at Beijing Capital Airport and escorts you to your comfortable 4+ star hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is yours to shake off jet lag. Stroll around the hotel neighborhood, sample local snacks like jianbing (savory crepes) from a street cart, or simply relax. Tomorrow, the real adventure begins.

Start at the world’s largest public square – Tian’anmen Square. Feel the vastness and spot the Great Hall of the People and Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum. Then step into the Forbidden City, a sprawling 980-building complex where 24 emperors once ruled. Your guide shares eerie stories of concubines and eunuchs. After lunch (local noodles recommended), head to the Summer Palace. Rent a boat on Kunming Lake or walk the Long Corridor adorned with 14,000 paintings. End the day with a taste of Peking duck (optional, not included).

Escape the city for Mutianyu – a restored, less-crowded section of the Great Wall. Take a cable car up, then hike along the ancient ramparts. For fun, toboggan down on a wheeled sled! After a rustic farmhouse lunch (wallet-friendly and delicious), return to Beijing. Visit the Bird’s Nest (National Stadium) from the 2008 Olympics. Snap photos of its twig-like steel structure at sunset.

Morning at the Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for harvest. Join locals practicing tai chi and listen to the “echo wall.” Then hop on a rickshaw through ancient hutongs (narrow alleys). Visit a family home, sip tea, and try your hand at making dumplings. After lunch, fly to Guilin (approx. 2.5 hours). Check into your hotel and wander the riverside night market.

Drive to Xingping – the fishing village featured on the 20-yuan banknote. Hike to a viewpoint for classic karst peaks reflected in the Li River. Next, explore Silver Cave, a glittering limestone labyrinth with stalactites shaped like waterfalls and dragons. In the evening, hit Yangshuo West Street – a lively pedestrian lane with foreigner-friendly bars, street food (try beer fish!), and quirky souvenir shops.

Start with a bamboo raft on the Yulong River – you’ll drift past water buffalo, farmers, and willow-draped banks (gentle and safe, no motor noise). Then cycle or e-scooter along the Ten-Mile Gallery, a scenic road lined with karst formations. Stop at a local fruit stand for mangosteens or passion fruit. Afternoon: see Guilin’s symbol – Elephant Trunk Hill (looks like an elephant drinking water). End at the Sun and Moon Pagodas – illuminated at dusk for a magical reflection.

Morning flight to Shanghai (approx. 2.5 hours). Check in and enjoy a free afternoon. Wander the Former French Concession for tree-lined streets and art deco villas, or head to Xintiandi for trendy cafes. For dinner, explore a local night market like Yuyuan Bazaar (self-arranged).

Start at Yu Garden, a Ming-dynasty classic with zigzag bridges and jade rocks. Then dive into Tianzi Fang – a maze of alleyways packed with art studios, indie boutiques, and tiny dumpling shops. Try a “soup dumpling” (xiaolongbao). Walk along Nanjing Road, China’s busiest shopping street, then end at The Bund – where colonial-era buildings face futuristic Pudong skyline. Watch the light show at 7 PM.

Enjoy a final breakfast (if time allows). Your private driver will take you to Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao Airport for your departure flight. End of service – but the memories of China’s imperial wonders, river valleys, and neon skylines will linger.