11-Day North China Ancient Town Tour: Beijing to Shanghai

Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Xi'an, Shanghai

Traveler Reviews

11 Days North China Ancient Town Exploration Tour tour map

Pingyao Ancient City — 11 Days North China Ancient Town Exploration Tour

Terracotta Army in Xian travel experience

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Cultural-02

Tour Highlights:

Follow an 11-day private route through Beijing, Datong, Pingyao, Xi'an and Shanghai.
Explore imperial landmarks, Buddhist grottoes, historic courtyards and preserved old streets.
Connect major cities and northern heritage towns by rail and road in the original sequence.
A strong choice for travelers interested in Chinese history, architecture and traditional urban life.

Best Travel Time:
The tour operates year-round, with April through November recommended for the most comfortable overall sightseeing conditions.

From $ 1641

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Tour Itinerary

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Itinerary

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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.

Beijing City View

Day 2Beijing

Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven

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 palace complex.

[12:30-14:00] Lunch is arranged at Shi Yuan Restaurant, with braised eggplant, vegetable balls and diced chicken with walnuts in soy sauce among the listed dishes.

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

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

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 section.

[12:30-13:30] Lunch is at Xiaolongpu Restaurant, with vegetable dishes such as fried vegetables, dry-fried beans and sweet corn cake listed on the menu.

[13:30-16:30] Drive back toward Beijing and view the exteriors of the Bird Nest and Water Cube, two signature venues from the Beijing Olympic Games.

[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 – Datong

Beijing Hutong, Summer Palace, High speed train to Datong

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Weidu Internation Hotel Datong Centre ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] Enjoy breakfast, 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 view of local lanes and neighborhood life.

[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.

[14:30-18:00] Transfer to Beijing North Railway Station for the approximately two-hour high-speed train to Datong. Your local guide will meet you at the station and take you to the hotel.

Hutong Tour by Rickshaw

Day 5Datong

Yungang Grottoes, Huayan Monastery, Nine Dragons Screen

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Weidu Internation Hotel Datong Centre ★★★★

[09:30-12:00] Drive first to the Yungang Grottoes, whose 53 caves contain more than 51,000 Buddhist stone carvings.

[12:30-13:30] Have lunch at a local restaurant.

[14:00-16:30] Return to central Datong to visit Huayan Monastery, the city's large Liao-dynasty monastery, then stop at the Nine Dragon Wall, an early glazed screen wall.

[16:30-17:30] Transfer to the hotel and rest after the day's visits.

Yungang Grottoes

Day 6Datong – Pingyao

Hanging Temple, Yingxian Wooden Pagoda

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

[08:00-08:30] Meet your guide at the hotel, check out and begin the overland journey toward Pingyao.

[08:30-11:00] Drive to Hunyuan County and visit the Hanging Temple, an ancient wooden complex built against the cliff.

[11:00-14:30] Continue about one hour to Yingxian County for the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, then have lunch at a local restaurant.

[14:30-18:30] Continue by road to Pingyao Ancient City, check in and rest after arrival.

Hanging Temple

Day 7Pingyao – Xi'an

Qiao Courtyard, Rishengchang Exchange Shop, Ming Qing Street

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Bell Tower Grand New Century Hotel★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Have breakfast at the hotel and meet your guide in the lobby.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to the Qiao Courtyard, the former home of Qiao Zhiyong and a window into the merchant culture of Shanxi.

[12:30-14:30] Return to Pingyao Ancient Town for lunch at a local restaurant.

[14:30-16:30] Explore Pingyao, including the Rishengchang Exchange Shop, founded in 1643 and recognized as China's first draft bank. Continue with a walk along Ming Qing Street.

Take the evening high-speed train to Xi'an. Your Xi'an guide will meet you at the station and transfer you to the hotel.

Qiao Courtyard

Day 8Xi'an

Terracotta Warriors, Bell Tower, Gao's Courtyard, Muslim Quarter

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Bell Tower Grand New Century Hotel★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin exploring ancient Xi'an.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to the Terracotta Warriors and view the excavated soldiers, horses and chariots in battle formation. The shuttle bus is included.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at Lanchi Restaurant, where the listed buffet includes dim sum, noodles and Chinese hamburgers.

[14:00-17:00] Visit the Bell tower, then explore the traditional residence and cultural displays at Gao's Courtyard. Continue to the Muslim Quarter for time among its shops and food stalls.

[17:00-17:30] Return to the hotel. The optional Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner is one possible evening activity.

Terracotta Warriors

Day 9Xi'an – Shanghai

Ancient City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and north square, Hanyang Tomb, fly to Shanghai

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

[09:30-10:00] Check out and meet your guide for the final day in Xi'an before the flight to Shanghai.

[10:00-12:30] Visit the Ancient City Wall, where bicycle rental is optional and excluded from the price. Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and its north-square fountain area.

[12:30-16:30] Have the scheduled dumpling-banquet lunch, then stop at the Hanyang Mausoleum while driving to Xi'an airport.

Fly to Shanghai. Your local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

Ancient City Wall

Day 10Shanghai

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 local specialties of dim sum and steamed buns.

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

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

The Bund

Day 11Shanghai

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

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Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class	Group Size	Dec. ~ Feb.	Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel ★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2505	$ 2611
Economy Hotel ★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1641	$ 1746
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2637	$ 2806
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1775	$ 1944
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2920	$ 3100
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 2058	$ 2238

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
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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.

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