China highlights, small group tour
Two week small group tour from Beijing to Shanghai via Kunming. Includes domestic flights, hiking on the Great Wall of China and a high-speed train journey to Xi'an.
Beijing Temple of Heaven Forbidden City Summer Palace Xizhazi Jiankou Great Wall Xi’an Terra-cotta Army Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Yunnan Tiger Leaping Gorge Gandan Sumtseling Monastery Kunming Shanghai
Price
US $2889ToUS $3225 including domestic flights only
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More info
Price includes: 1.
nice hotels along the whole trip; 2.
Meals listed in the itinerary; 3.
First entrance fee and activities fee; 4.
Professional Engligh guide; 5.
Local transportation fee; 6.
All the domestic airfares and train ticket
nice hotels along the whole trip; 2.
Meals listed in the itinerary; 3.
First entrance fee and activities fee; 4.
Professional Engligh guide; 5.
Local transportation fee; 6.
All the domestic airfares and train ticket
Description of China highlights, small group tour
This fantastic small group tour of China highlights the country's cultural heritage as well as the stunning natural landscapes that have made this return journey to Beijing via Chengdu, Lijiang and Kunming such an enviable experience for modern day travellers.
From the Forbidden City and hutong districts in Beijing to walking on the Jiankou-Mutianyu sections of the Great Wall you'll find this China highlights small group tour starts as it means to go on prior to taking a high-speed train to Xi'an and a chance to see, first-hand, the world-famous Terracotta Warriors.
The China highlights on this small group tour don't stop and after Xi'an you'll fly to Lijiang over the Yangtze River whereupon indigenous Naxi and Yi communities invite you to share their beautiful natural world, including the legendary Tiger Leaping Gorge.
The closer you get to Shangri-la the more Tibetan cultural influences come to the fore with visits to the ancient Songzanlin Monastery bound to be one of the cultural China highlights of this small group tour before your final domestic flight to the bright lights of the Bund and Shanghai.
Price information
US $2889ToUS $3225 including domestic flights only
Convert currency:
Price includes: 1.
nice hotels along the whole trip; 2.
Meals listed in the itinerary; 3.
First entrance fee and activities fee; 4.
Professional Engligh guide; 5.
Local transportation fee; 6.
All the domestic airfares and train ticket
nice hotels along the whole trip; 2.
Meals listed in the itinerary; 3.
First entrance fee and activities fee; 4.
Professional Engligh guide; 5.
Local transportation fee; 6.
All the domestic airfares and train ticket
Check dates, prices & availability
Travel guides
Follow a lesser-visited route from Badaling to Jinshanling for a great experience on the Wall.
Our China travel guide features everything from advice on food and shopping to a brief history of China.
Holiday information
Top tip:
Make the most of free time by asking your guide for personal recommendations and be brave when exploring on your own. China is very safe so take a phrase book and dive into a local dumpling or tea house for a really authentic experience.
Trip type:
Small group.
Activity level:
Active. 9km hike on the Great Wall, rickshaw and bike tours, and cultural sightseeing.
Accomm:
Comfortable locally-owned hotels.
Meals:
12 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 7 dinners
Included:
Transfers, domestic flights, high-speed train, English speaking guides, cultural shows and entrance fees.
About this holiday company:
This company specialise in tailor made active holidays across China for people who prefer independent travel away from tourist hot spots. They work closely with local businesses and communities to offer an authentic experience that benefits both travellers and local people alike.
Dietary requirements:
We can cater for vegetarian and vegan diets.
Reviews
1 Reviews of China highlights, small group tour
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 01 Oct 2025 by Hugh Choudhury
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Discovering the unusual beauty of places like Lijiang and ShangriLa
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Weather is changeable in the different area with Beijing and Shanhai being hot and ShangriLa up in the moutains being cool. Packing list was useful. Also bring trekking poles - they are missing from the list and help with some of the hiking. I would also warn that the schedule is very hectic and to prepare for an early night every night to get enough rest. Otherwise this is truly a great holiday with small tour groups ir in my case, on my own so Inhad a dedicated driver and tourguide in every location. Also the drivers and tourguides often feel like second class citizens so encourage them to take you to local restaurants which are cheap and they can all sit at the table with you.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes plenty of opportunity to buy locally made produce or crafts. Tour guides were very enthusiastic about their locality and often they were ethnically local so wanted to show how their local cultures although they were of course careful about local politics and national government. Although a dedicated driver was a bit of a luxury - however often the vehicle where electric.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely excellent - exceeded my expectations. The hotel were much above what I expected. The tour guides were very high quality and knowledgeable - even the young ones. The dedicated tourguide and driver really made it an forgettable brilliant experience. The places we visited and activities such as a learning to write in local language was so insightful. Above all people were so friendly and welcoming. Wendy from the operator did an excellent job of coordinating each location - flights trains etc all run absolutely like clcokwork - not one single thing went wrong.
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) holiday so that you can travel knowing we've worked to maximise the benefits of your holiday to local people and places, and minimise any negative impacts.
Planet
This tour will transport you to an eclectic and culturally significant range of heritage sites that date back to ancient times, and it will also take you to unique places of natural beauty, including lakes, deserts and mountain ranges of spectacular beauty. It therefore exceptionally important that we fully understand and appreciate the importance of developing tours that are sustainable and reduce the impacts of tourism on the human and natural environment wherever possible. Indeed, all of our tours maintain a great respect for the cultural and natural surroundings in which we visit and travel, and we have opted to use only essential methods of public or private transport for this itinerary.To help us protect and preserve what remains of both China’s wonderful cultural and natural heritage, we ask that all of our travel participants help care for the environments they visit by being respectfully aware of the unique locations we take them to. Indeed, due to the popularity of the Great Wall today, it is essential that we help protect the future of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a bonus of our unique approach, you will also discover that our tour groups are small in size so that are impacts are minimised, and of course, so that we can afford you the attention you deserve!
People
Our itinerary has been designed to fully incorporate the local communities of the regions we visit. We value their unique insights, knowledge, and hospitality, and believe that they too should benefit from tourism too. We respect their traditions and beliefs, and are acutely aware of the need to respect indigenous people and religious sites in particular.Wherever possible, we use locally-owned guesthouses, hotels, restaurants, and services to ensure that local communities and business prosper in a highly competitive market. An added bonus of using locally-owned services and people is that they will often be highly enthusiastic, generous and proud to welcome you into the places where many have be born and raised.
We are also exceptionally aware of the need to use local ‘green’ tourism services and businesses to ensure that the natural and social environments that host tourism are protected and well-managed. This includes the use of locally-sourced produce such as food and crafts, for example. However, perhaps one of the greatest reasons for using locally-owned accommodation is that you will see the ‘real’ China in its various guises. You will sample traditional villages, religious customs, cuisines, and ways of life that can be significantly different to anything you may have experienced before. We will also take you to incredible places away from the tourist crowds to ensure that your experiences are genuinely unique. We fully believe that this is a wonderful way to learn about this spectacular country and have no doubt that you will agree!
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