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13 Days from Li River to the Yangtze Tour

Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Chongqing, Yangtze Cruise, Yichang, Shanghai

Traveler Reviews

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Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Yangtze-04

Tour Highlights:

  The Best seller tour of Top China Travel.
  Fine-designed itinerary and hand-picked tours combination.
  Not only present the long history and rich culture in China, but also the breathtaking scenery of Li River in Guilin and relaxing voyage  along Yangtze River.
 

Best Travel Time:
Suitable for the whole year, best from April to November.

From $ 23332100

Free Inquiry

Day 1Arrival Beijing
Transfer service to hotel

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

Your journey will begin in Beijing, one of the most mysterious cities in the world. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by YUNSKY tour guide at Beijing international airport and transferred to your hotel. After check-in, free at leisure and have a good sleep to get over the jet lag. Over the next several days, you'll explore this ancient city which is also the political and cultural heart of China. Get ready for that.


Forbidden City

Day 2Beijing
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Back Lakes and Nanluoguxiang Alley

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

[09:00-09:30] You will be met by our guide at the hotel lobby and start to explore the historical city of Beijing.

[09:30-12:30] You will reach the Tian'anmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Walk through the square and visit today's highlight Forbidden City , the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Hike to Jingshan Park, where gives a nice panoramic view of the Forbidden City at the top of Coal Hill.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant enroute to experience the authentic Chinese food.

[14:00-16:30] Drive to Back Lakes (Houhai), the marvelous place to discover the history of Beijing City and the endless charm. Walk into Nanluoguxiang Alley which is one of the most famous Hutong districts in Beijing and mix of history, fashion and Souvenir Boutique. 

[16:30-17:30] Back to your hotel after today leisure tour. You are free to ask your guide for suggestion of evening activities, such as the night show and place to have Peking duck dinner.

Tiananmen Square

Day 3Beijing
Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall

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

[08:00-08:30] You will be met by our guide at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Great Wall.

[08:30-10:00] Before going to the Great Wall, you will visit Temple of Heaven, where the local resident will do morning exercises in the square. You will have chance to watch Chinese Kongfu, Taichi, square dancing, etc. and get to know the real folk master there.

[10:00-13:30] Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall, which section is more popular among foreign visitors. Upon arrival,enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant nearby the Great Wall.

[13:30-16:00] Enjoy your half day exploration at Mutianyu Great Wall. You can choose to hike or take cable car up and roam around. The Mutianyu Great Wall has the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall. 

[16:00-17:30] Back to the hotel, en route you can plan for the night activities, such as foot massage, houhai night bars and Sanlitun bar street.

Temple of Heaven
Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4Beijing – Xi'an
Summer Palace, Departure to Xi'an by high speed train

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

[09:30-10:00] You will be met at the hotel lobby and enjoy half day leisure tour before leaving Beijing.

[10:00-11:30] Visit Summer Palace which is China existing largest and best preserved imperial garden.  It is also a large natural landscape garden which used Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as based address, modeled on the Hangzhou West Lake scenery. Enjoy boat ride on Kunming Lake is also a pleasant experience.

[11:30-12:30] A La Carte lunch at a local popular restaurant, atmosphere might be loud but tasty food.

After lunch, be transferred to the 5.5 hours high speed train to Xi'an. Your Xi'an tour guide will wait for you at the airport and help you to transfer to the hotel.


Summer Palace

Day 5Xi'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] You will be met at the hotel lobby and start today's tour for the Ancient city.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to Terracotta Warriors and explore one of the world's most important archaeological finds, with troops, horses and carriages in battle formation. Shuttle bus will be arranged for your convenience. Then you will have a chance to visit pottery figurine factory, where you can learn how to make a pottery figurine.

[12:30-14:00] A chinese Lunch will be arranged nearby the scenic area of Terracotta Warriors.

[14:00-17:00] Afternoon visit the Bell tower, which is the largest bell tower in structure and shape and the best-preserved one in China. Then have a visit at Gao's Courtyard, which is a wonderful choice for you to appreciate ancient residences and explore local culture of paper-cutting and shadow puppetry. Continue to walk around Muslim Quarter and enjoy your shopping time there and you can also challenge the various local snacks.

[17:00-17:30] Back to the hotel. Tonight, we highly recommend you watch the Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner at your own cost.


Terracotta Warriors

Day 6Xi'an – Guilin
Ancient City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and north square, Hanyang Tomb, Fly to Guilin

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel or similar  ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] You will have enough time to pack up and check out. Be met at the hotel lobby and have one day leisure tour in Xi'an before leaving for Guilin.

[10:00-12:30] Visit the Ancient City Wall, which represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. You may choose to ride a bicycle on the wall to go around (***Bicycle riding is optional and excluded from our price***). After that, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. It's the landmark building of Xian and symbol of China ancient capital and you will also have chance to watch the North plaza fountain show.

[12:30-16:30] After lunch, drive to Xi'an airport, on the way visit the Hanyang Mausoleum, the largest museum with largest floor space in China. Fly to Guilin. Your Guilin tour guide will wait for you at the airport and help you to transfer to the hotel.

 
Ancient City Wall

Day 7Guilin – Yangshuo
Li River, West Street, Biking tour along Yulong River

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel or similar ★★★★

[08:00-08:30] You will be met at the hotel lobby and start to explore the Li River on Cruise.

[09:30-14:00] Enjoy Li River Cruise tour with buffet lunch on board. Deluxe cruise will be arranged with decent facility and good service. Savor the fairy-tale scenery while cruising down the meandering river to Yangshuo. You can go on the sundeck or just sit and appreciate the picturesque scenery from the window. After disembarking, walk through the West Street or take sightseeing car to the parking lot.

[14:30-16:00] Take a bicycle riding at Yulong River area, along Yulong riverside leisurely and appreciate the clear river with countless hills surrounded as well as the beauty of Yangshuo countryside.

[17:00-17:30] Drive back to Guilin. We highly recommend you take the Night Cruise sailing on Li River , where will be illuminated at night.


Li River Cruise

Day 8Guilin – Chongqing
Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill, Departure to Chongqing by high speed train

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
On Board: Victoria Cruise ★★★★★

[09:00-09:30] You will be met at your hotel lobby and start to discover this beautiful city.

[09:30-12:30] Visit Reed Flute Cave which is a famous scenic spot offering a magic fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites in fantastic shapes and colors. After that, drive to Elephant Trunk Hill, the badge of Guilin city. The hill looks exactly like a huge elephant stretching its trunk drinking water of the Li River. You could climb up to the top and take full view of Guilin's hills and rivers. Walking along the Li River and enjoy a short visit to the Golden and Silver Twin Pagodas.

Take high speed train to Chongqing. Your Chongqing tour guide will wait for you at the station and help you to transfer to Chaotianmen wharf and check-in at the Victoria cruise, which Set sail from Chongqing at 9:00 p.m.

Elephant Trunk Hill
Elephant View from Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel

Day 9Yangtze River Cruise
Fengdu Ghost City (optional), Fengdu Shuanguishan National Park, FengYan SanGuo “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” Show(optional)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch& Dinner
On Board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

Enjoy a full day Yangtze cruise! In ther morning, you will have an optional shore excursion short visit to Fengdu (depends on river condition). Fendu is known as the ‘Ghost City' to most Chinese people. Fengdu Shuanguishan National Park is arranged as your shore excursion. You can also choose to take the additional shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City with extra fee. Tonight a captain welcome reception is arranged for all the tourists. Feng Yan San Guo “Rommance of the Three Kingdoms” Show is another show excursion for you in the evening.

Victoria Cruise Itinerary: (only for reference, may change by cruise without notice)

[06:30-08:30] Early Bird Coffee and Tea; Practice Tai Chi on board and Buffet breakfast.

[09:00-13:30] Shore excursion—Fengdu Shuanguishan National Park is arranged in the morning. Or take additional shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City with extra cost. Buffet lunch is served on board.

[16:00-21:30] Late afternoon Captain's Welcome Reception with buffet dinner. In the evening, you can choose to take the additional Shore excursion—FengYan SanGuo “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” Show.

Notes:
1. The cruise shore excursion and docks are subject to the arrangements which might influent by seasons, water levels, cruise canals and climates and subject to change without prior notice. During the cruise, you will receive the schedule from boat for declares the daily programme
2. Service fee to river guide and cruise crew on board is RMB150 per passenger which does not including in fare.
3. The other personal expense such as internet service, laundry, drinks and bar charge etc are not including.

Fengdu Ghost City
Fengdu Ghost City

Day 10Yangtze River Cruise
White Emperor City, Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, Goddess Stream

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch& Dinner
On Board: Victoria cruise ★★★★★

Today, an optional excursion will be arranged at around 07:30 to the White Emperor City – a place offers a view looking toward the Qutang Gorge is depicted on the back of the Chinese 10-yuan bill. Back to the ship and then pass through Three Gorges that namely Qutang Gorge – considered the most dramatic by many visitors, Wu Gorge – known for its deep valleys and forest covered mountains, and then after lunch, you will have a boat excursion to Goddess Stream .

Victoria Cruise Itinerary: (A bit different from the itinerary of other cruises)
06:30 – 07:00 Early bird coffee and tea/ practice Tai Chi at upper deck
07:00 – 08:30 Breakfast (Buffet)
07:30 – 10:15 Optional Shore excursion – White Emperor City (at your own expense RMB295 P.P)
10:45 (Est.)    Sailing through Qutang Gorge
12:45 (Est.)    Scenic cruising – Wu Gorge
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch (Buffet)
15:15 – 18:15 Shore excursion – Goddess Stream (or Shennong Stream depends on river condition)
19:00 – 20:30 Captain's Farewell Banquet (set-menu table dinner)
21:00 – 21:45 Crew cabaret
(18:00-23:00) Check out and pay for the bills if any

Tips: Excursion trip to White Emperor City, you would take the coach directly to Baidi Temple in 20 minutes' drive. You will have two hours for your White Emperor City visit to appreciate the rich historic story and mysterious land.


Yangtze River

Day 11Yichang – Shanghai
Three Gorges Dam Site, High speed train to Shanghai

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

[06:00-07:45] Buffet breakfast

[08:15-12:30] Disembark at Maoping cruise terminal, Shore excursion to Three Gorges Dam Site; transfer to the passenger center in downtown of Yichang

Take high speed train to Shanghai. Your Shanghai tour guide will wait for you at the train station and help you to transfer to the hotel.


Three Gorges Dam

Day 12Shanghai
Shikumen, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Lujiazui CBD, Shanghai Tower

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

[09:00-09:30] You will be met at the hotel lobby and start to explore the New and Old Shanghai.

[09:30-12:30] Walk into the Shikumen, the old alley with old buildings,  a blend of Western and Chinese traditional culture, where the local residents still live there. Enjoy orientation walk on the Bund which was a foreign trade center from the late 19th century. Then continue a visit to Yuyuan Garden, a traditional Chinese garden in Shanghai downtown.

[12:30-13:30] A La Carte lunch at a local popular restaurant, atmosphere might be loud but tasty food.

[13:30-16:30] In the afternoon, visit Jade Buddha Temple and silk museum. Then Reach to the Lujiazui CBD new area and enjoy your leisure time on the Riverside Promenade. Have a cup of coffee and take a short break. In conclusion, visit Shanghai Tower which is the city skyline and Shanghai tallest building. Enjoy your Top of Shanghai journey and panoramic view of Shanghai city.

[16:30-17:30] Back to the hotel. We highly recommend you watch the ERA Acrobatic Show, which is one of the most popular evening entertainments in Shanghai.


The Bund

Day 13Departure Shanghai
Transfer service to airport

Meals: Breakfast

Free day at leisure and be transferred to the airport for return flight. We can arrange the Maglev train ride to Pudong airport if you are interested in, or we will drive you directly to the airport.

Service Ends

Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class Group Size Dec. ~ Feb. Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel
★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 2986 2687

$ 3115 2804

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 2333 2100

$ 2463 2217

Comfortable Hotel
★★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 3089 2780

$ 3259 2933

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 2436 2193

$ 2607 2346

Deluxe Hotel
★★★★★
2 ~ 5 pax

$ 3577 3219

$ 3812 3431

6 ~ 9 pax

$ 2924 2632

$ 3160 2844

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.


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Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
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5.0

Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Top China 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.

Allessandr0

5.0

I am a tour leader from Italy and this was my first cooperation with Janet and how lucky we met her!! We followed the trip with her to remote areas in China including some ethnic group area in Guizhou province and Sanjiang, Longsheng and Guilin, we enjoyed completely throughout the whole trip and some arrangement even out of our surprise, like we went to Janet's home to learn how to pack Chinese Ravioli, she invited a Taichi teacher and we had a 1 hour Taichi class inside her home community. Everything was fine and our group members are all like her very much. We strongly recommend Janet Chan (janet@yunskytravel.com) as your China trip consultant! She is so considerate and carefully planned each detail of our trip. Guizhou is a very interesting and primitive place for visiting, you should include in your China trip as well! Thank you Janet! You are very professional!!

JrnyJunkie

5.0

The views are stunning and the boat that we were on had VIP seating for just our group with a private balcony to view the river.

World_lover4

5.0

YUNSKY was very helpful in our Guilin trip. We are vegetarians and they made sure we were well fed. We had a private tour with YUNSKY and my only regret was that I wish it had included a Li river cruise to Ghanshou. Make sure you ask for one instead of going by road.

susan v

5.0

My daughter and I recently did a private 13 day tour with YUNSKY starting in Beijing and ending in Shanghai. We went to Xian, Guilin and on a 3 night Yangtze river cruise. I did a lot of research before using YUNSKY as last year we had a very bad experience with a tour company in Morocco which really spoiled our whole holiday. Obviously doing a private tour is much more expensive but well worth the money. From the beginning my dealings with Bonnie were so personal. It was so nice to be met at airports/stations by a private guide and drivers. I loved the fact that the guides did all the check-ins at airports and at the station for the Bullet train from Beijing to Xian. I was so glad that Linda could accompany us right to the waiting room at station as there were thousands of people at the station and it could have been quite overwhelming. All the hotels that we stayed in were above my expectations for China. All our guides and drivers were very attentive and enthusiastic . We are vegetarians and all the guides made sure that they helped us find food at lunch time. Linda our guide in Beijing wrote a note saying we were vegetarians which we used in the evenings at restaurants for the whole trip. At the great wall of China we went up the chair lift and tobogganed down. My only criticism would be that we would have preferred to go up with the cable car and then walk all the way along the wall to the toboggan ride. Unfortunately when we said we want to toboggan down the guide decided that we should go up the chair lift as it is closer to the toboggan. I felt that we did not have enough time on the wall. My advice is for the guide to give all the options as the walk from the cable car is quite long and not everybody might want to walk so far.
The Terracotta warriors were another highlight of the trip. Lucy we loved your selfie app….we want it too 🙂 We loved the Li river cruise in Guilin and our guide Michelle even brought us a special vegetarian packed lunch as often the cruise does not have vegetarian options for lunch. She was so attentive on the cruise and pointed out all the special highlights of the cruise, something I did not see all the other guides doing. On our flight from Xian to Guilin there was not vegetarian option for us. I mentioned this to Bonnie and she then arranged that when we flew from Guilin to Chongqing that Cherry, who met us at the airport to take us to the Boat Cruise, had a vegetarian meal for us. Also when we disembarked in Yichang, Victor also brought along a vegetarian packed lunch for us. Jakob our guide in Shanghai practically became our family in the few days that we spent with him. He had the most amazing sense of humor and made us laugh every day. Thank you for the very special Chilli sauce. Bianca eats it on practically everything.
To Bonnie and all the guides… Linda, Lucy, Michelle, Cherry, Victor and Jakob… thank you for making this one of the most memorable trips that we have ever done. Also big thank you to all the very proficient drivers for keeping us safe on the ‘wild' Chinese roads.
China is an amazingly beautiful and vibrant country to visit.
Just one suggestion: On the itinerary mention all the optional shows that one can attend in different cities and suggest booking before you go. We were unable to go to the show in Shanghai as it was a weekend and fully booked by the time we asked our guide.

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