Explore the route, then refine the details.
A China Adventure Club route through several contrasting regions of China. Explore the operator’s itinerary outline, then refine its pace and arrangements for your dates.
Adapted from China Adventure Club’s original regional and national collection. The outline below describes the source route; your written proposal establishes the current order, overnight stops and service arrangements.
Itinerary outline
Select a route section to explore the map. Tap a stop for its location or use the directions link for the next leg. Flights, trains, cruises and hiking arrangements follow your itinerary.
1 Beijing Directions to Xi’an
2 Xi’an Directions to Kunming
3 Kunming Directions to Dali
4 Dali Directions to Lijiang
5 Lijiang Directions to Shanghai
6 Shanghai
Meeting southern minorities. Getting into "Shangri-la" in your mind
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing.
Day 2: Discover all the fantasies that Beijing, the first ancient city in China has to offer - the Royal Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, the royal China's largest inner-city garden. The next day head to the lakeside Huanghuacheng Great Wall. Camping under the moon and stars in the Great Wall Beacon, where the ancient generals commanded battles, to experience the hardships of the warriors' lives. Savor the delicisious Chinese country-style dishes of organic food planted locally.
Day 3: In the early hours of the morning, spread your arms to greet the sunrise on the Great Wall. Enjoy the unique sunrise sensation at the Great Wall with breakfast delivered to your tower. Hike for 2 hours on the silent ancient Great Wall and marvel at its grandeur and architectural wonders! ! High up on a hill overlooking a quiet lake. This section of the Great Wall is the only one built on the water's edge. After lunch return to Beijing and listen to the echoes of the past at the Temple of Heaven where the emperor used to pray every year.
Day 4: Fly to Xi’an in the morning to visit the Terracotta Warriors. Discovered by local farmers in 1974, these life-size soldiers and horses form part of the burial complex of China’s first emperor. In the evening, enjoy a dumpling banquet followed by a Tang dynasty music and dance performance inspired by imperial court life.
Day 5: Visit the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, a library built during the Tang Dynasty to store hundreds of sutras brought back from India. Afterwards, go for a bike ride on top of the ancient walls of Xi'an, one of the most famous city structures of the late Middle Ages. Take a bite of Xi'an's meat bun - known as the Chinese hamburger before you say Good-bye. Fly to Kunming.
Day 6: Begin your Yunnan journey at the Stone Forest, where tall limestone pinnacles resemble trees rising from the ground. Explore the karst landscape and learn about the culture of the local Yi and Sani communities. Continue by vehicle to Dali.
Day 7: Explore Erhai Lake and learn about the culture of local Bai communities. Visit the Three Pagodas and their monastery grounds, then stroll through Dali’s old town and lively Foreigner Street. Continue to Xizhou to see its traditional Bai residences.
Day 8: Discover the World Heritage town of Lijiang. Meandering through Lijiang's ancient town, you can see typical houses of Bai people with close courtyards, "three rooms and a shining wall", and "four rows of houses and five dooryards." Visit a local market of the Naxi people, where you’ll have the chance to peruse the crafts and art products that they offer. Head to the Black Dragon Pool Park and drink from the fountain that brings good luck. The water reflecting the old buildings, the surrounding trees and the snow-capped peaks in the distance is an enchanting sight.
Day 9: Explore Lijiang’s historic towns, beginning in Baisha. Visit its murals, which combine Chinese, Tibetan, and Naxi artistic influences with Buddhist, Dongba, Confucian, and Taoist themes. Continue through the countryside to Shuhe Old Town. Relax in a teahouse and enjoy views of the streets below as the afternoon draws to a close.
Day 10: Visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the way back to Kunming. This is a snowy mountain to climb, also a sacred mountain to Naxi people. Once the cable car is up the mountain, the rest of the journey is to ascend it step by step on your own until you reach the highest point at 4680m. From the observation deck, the view of the snow-capped peaks in the sky is particularly spectacular. Go down the hill and see the Blue Moon Valley. When you look at the whole scenery from a distance, it really looks like a blue lake-like gem lying in the mountains.
Day 11: Arrive in Kunming. Explore the World Horticultural Exposition Garden, home to many diverse gardens from the 31 provinces of China. Fly to Shanghai.
Days 12–13: Explore Shanghai’s historic neighborhoods and modern skyline. Walk along Nanjing Road, enjoy panoramic views from an observation deck, and pause for coffee in Tianzifang. Cruise the Huangpu River to see both banks and learn about the Bund’s commercial history. Visit Zhujiajiao for a different view of the city through its canals, bridges, and traditional streets.
What to refine before booking
Protect the travel days
Review the full hotel-to-hotel transfer for every intercity leg. Avoid relying on a flight or train arriving early enough for a tightly timed major attraction unless the final schedule supports it.
Choose a comfortable pace
Confirm stairs, slopes and time on foot. Ask which optional visits can be shortened or removed, and where an additional night would make the biggest difference.
Make inclusions explicit
Request the actual hotel and room choices, guide language, vehicle arrangements, admission coverage, meals and any activity-specific support in the written quotation.
Compare another approach
For a more spacious route, explore the original journey briefs in our national and regional collections. These show overnight allocations, transfer days and the tradeoffs behind each route.