12-Day China Food Tour: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou & Shanghai

Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai

Traveler Reviews

12 Days China Gourmet Experience Tour tour map

Forbidden City palace architecture in Beijing

Hangzhou and West Lake travel experience

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Cultural-07

Tour Highlights:

Taste imperial, Sichuan, Cantonese, Hangzhou and Shanghai food traditions on one private route.
Combine regional meals with major cultural landmarks from Beijing to Shanghai.
Join the scheduled Sichuan cooking lesson for a practical introduction to local cuisine.

Best Travel Time:
This itinerary operates year-round, with April through November recommended for the most comfortable overall travel conditions.

From $ 2238

Free Inquiry

Tour Itinerary

Expand All

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1Beijing

Transfer service to hotel

Meals: No Meals
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

Arrive in Beijing, meet your YUNSKY guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is free to recover from the journey.

Beijing City View

Day 2Beijing

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Panjiayuan Antique Market

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin exploring historic Beijing.

[09:30-12:30] Start at Tian'anmen Square, enter the Forbidden City, and then climb Jingshan Park for a panoramic view over the former imperial palace.

[12:30-14:00] Have Imperial Cuisine for lunch, introducing a style of cuisine historically prepared for China's imperial court.

[14:00-16:30] Visit the Temple of Heaven, the ceremonial complex where emperors prayed for good harvests. Afterwards, browse Panjiayuan Antique Market and Pearl Market.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Ask your guide for suggestions if you would like a night show or a Peking duck dinner.

Forbidden City

Day 3Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Park, The exterior Bird Nest and Water Cube

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

[08:00-08:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and depart for the Great Wall.

[08:30-12:30] Drive to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Choose to hike after arrival or take the cable car up before walking along the restored wall.

[12:30-13:30] Lunch is arranged at Xiaolongpu Restaurant, with fried vegetables, dry-fried beans and sweet corn cake among the listed dishes.

[13:30-16:30] Drive back toward Beijing and view the exteriors of the Bird Nest and Water Cube, two landmark venues from the Beijing Olympic Games. Finish with a Chinese tea experience at a teahouse.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Free-time options include a foot massage, Houhai bars or Sanlitun Bar Street.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4Beijing – Chengdu

Beijing Hutong, Summer Palace, fly to Chengdu

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Tianfu Sunshine Hotel ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] Pack, check out and meet your guide for the final half-day in Beijing.

[10:00-11:30] Head to the Drum Tower area for a Hutong Tour by rickshaw and a closer look at Beijing's traditional lanes.

[11:30-14:30] Continue to the Summer Palace,, where a boat ride on Kunming Lake is included. Lunch is arranged at Xiangyangtun Restaurant with its indoor opera stage.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Chengdu. Meet your local guide on arrival and continue to the hotel for rest.

Beijing Hutong

Day 5Chengdu

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Renmin Park, Jinli Old Street

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Tianfu Sunshine Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the day's visits in Chengdu.

[09:30-12:30] Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, whose landscaped enclosures recreate panda habitat. The sightseeing shuttle is included, with time to observe giant pandas and young pandas eating and playing. Lunch is arranged at a nearby restaurant.

[12:30-13:30] The scheduled Hot Pot lunch is served at Old House Restaurant.

[13:30-16:30] Spend the afternoon in Renmin Park, where residents dance, play mahjong and gather in teahouses. A tea break is arranged, with a mahjong lesson available if you are interested. Continue to Jinli Old Street for its Qing-style architecture and shops.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. The optional Face Changing show or an independent walk around Kuanzhai Alley can be considered for the evening.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Day 6Chengdu

Sichuan Cuisine Museum with cooking lesson

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Tianfu Sunshine Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the Sichuan cuisine program.

[09:30-12:30] Visit the Sichuan Cuisine Museum, and its exhibition spaces on Sichuan food culture, ingredients, processing tools and kitchen traditions. The scheduled cooking lesson takes place at the museum.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at the museum restaurant and sample traditional Sichuan dishes.

Return to central Chengdu in the afternoon and walk through Kuaizhai Alley.

Chengdu Hotpot

Day 7Chengdu – Guangzhou

Fly to Guangzhou, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Temple of Chen Family

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Ocean Hotel ★★★★

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Guangzhou. Meet your local guide, check in and take a short break before lunch featuring Canton Cuisine. In the afternoon, visit the Dr. Sun Yetsen Memorial Hall and the Temple of Chen Family, noted for its traditional decorative work and Thousand-Buddha Pagoda.

Temple of Chen Family

Day 8Guangzhou – Hangzhou

Canton Morning Tea, fly to Hangzhou

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Hangzhou Merchant Marco Edgelake Hotel

Begin early with traditional Canton Morning Tea, then transfer to the airport for the flight to Hangzhou.

Canton Food

Day 9Hangzhou

West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Six Harmonies Pagoda, Tea Museum, Hefang Street

Meals: Breakfast& Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Hangzhou Merchant Marco Edge Lake Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin the Hangzhou sightseeing day.

[09:30-12:30] Visit West Lake and take the included lake cruise, with time for a walk beside the water. Continue to Lingyin Temple, a Buddhist temple set among wooded hills.

[12:30-13:30] Have lunch at a local restaurant featuring traditional Hangzhou cuisine.

[13:30-17:00] Visit the Six Harmonies Pagoda, for views toward the Qiantang River. Continue to the China Tea Museum for an introduction to tea history and production, then browse Hefang Street.

[17:00-17:30] Return to the hotel. The optional Impression Show of West Lake can be considered for the evening.

West Lake

Day 10Hangzhou – Shanghai

Wuzhen Water Town

Meals: Breakfast& Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunrise On The Bund Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and set out for Wuzhen.

[09:30-12:30] Drive about two hours to Wuzhen water town., a preserved canal town south of the Yangtze River, and explore its historic streets and waterways.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at a local restaurant in Wuzhen, with traditional Hangzhou cuisine listed for the meal.

Return to Shanghai in the afternoon, check in and keep the remaining time free. At around 7:00 p.m., join the scheduled local-food experience on Wujiang Road.

Wuzhen Water Town

Day 11Shanghai

Jade Buddha Temple, the exterior of Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street, The Bund

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunrise on the Bund Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the Shanghai sightseeing program.

[09:30-12:30] Visit Jade Buddha Temple and its seated, jewel-covered Buddha, described as weighing 1,000 kg. Continue to the exterior of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and walk along the Riverside Promenade.

[12:30-13:30] Lunch features the listed Shanghai specialties of dim sum and steamed buns.

[13:30-16:30] Explore Yuyuan Garden, then browse Shanghai Old Street and Nanjing Road for local souvenirs and silk products. Finish with a walk along the Bund and its historic waterfront architecture.

16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Ask your guide about the optional Acrobatic Show, including the ERA production.

The Bund

Day 12Shanghai

Transfer service to airport

Meals: Breakfast

Keep the day free until your airport transfer. A Maglev ride to Pudong Airport can be arranged if requested; otherwise, transfer directly by road.

Service Ends

Enquire This Tour

Enquire This Tour

Create My Trip

Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class	Group Size	Dec. ~ Feb.	Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel ★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2974	$ 3135
Economy Hotel ★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 2238	$ 2399
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 3091	$ 3298
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 2355	$ 2562
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 3924	$ 4448
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 3188	$ 3712

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

Price excludes:

* International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services
* China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

Remarks:

※ Prices are valid from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right to adjust the price caused by exchange rate
※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise.
※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking
※ Special requirements should be advised to YUNSKY in advance.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.

Useful Information

Why Choose Us

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
>>Feedbacks

5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though

Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great – they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this.
The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely “Chinese style” hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable.
Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back – Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,

N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Yun Sky Travel to everybody.

Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Yun Sky Travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.

Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Yun Sky Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect.
My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly.
Thank you Vicky and all at YUNSKY and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.

11 Days North China Ancient Town Exploration Tour

Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Xi'an, Shanghai

11 Days Travel to China Ancient Cities

Beijing, Dengfeng, Luoyang, Xian, Shanghai

12 Days Tour to Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism

Chengdu, Mount Emei, Mount Wutai, Mount Jiuhua, Mount Putuo, Shanghai