01
Overview
Beijing plays the empire at full volume: one axis, gate after gate, every roof ranked. Then the train runs west into Shanxi and the volume drops. The temples turn to wood, the sculpture to painted clay, and the faces turn individual: Song dynasty maidens at Jinci, more than 2,000 figures at Shuanglin, stone Buddhas carved through four dynasties at Tianlongshan. Seven days, one civilisation in two registers. The souvenir is a habit: you will find yourself reading rooflines long after you are home.
LyrikTrip travel designers
Your route is designed and noted before you land; licensed English-speaking local guides accompany you in Beijing and across Shanxi.
Why you'll love this trip
- Old China, wood and stone. The Great Wall, Song dynasty statues, Buddhist grottoes and the walled town of Pingyao, with English-speaking guides throughout.
- Walk the Beijing Central Axis through the Forbidden City, gate after gate, until an empire's plan appears.
- Ride the cable car to Mutianyu's ridgeline and walk from watchtower to watchtower along the Great Wall.
- Meet the Song dynasty maidens of Jinci Temple, each with her own age, rank and mood.
- See the painted halls of Shuanglin Temple, the ones behind a game the world now plays.
- Climb Pingyao's city wall and walk the streets where merchants once moved money across China on paper.
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Beijing · Day 1 - Day 3
· Beijing: arrival and the old lanes
Land, and drop to a walking pace. The old city makes its own introduction.
· Beijing: the Central Axis
One straight line through the capital. Learn its grammar in a morning.
· Beijing: the Great Wall at Mutianyu
North to the mountains. See what the empire built when it was on guard.
High-speed rail
Taiyuan · Day 4 - Day 7
· West to Taiyuan: the Shanxi Museum
West by high-speed rail. The older China starts in a museum.
· Jinci and Tianlongshan
Wood in the morning, stone in the afternoon. Two ways China shaped its gods.
· Shuanglin and Pingyao
A temple crowded with 2,000 figures. Then the walled town that moved China's money.
· Departure
One last slow morning. Take the trained eye home.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Taiyuan
LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport)
LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport). A selected stay in Taiyuan.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Taiyuan
LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport)
LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport). A selected stay in Taiyuan.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Taiyuan
LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport)
LANLI Hotel (Taiyuan South Station Wusu Airport). A selected stay in Taiyuan.
Beijing
Atour Hotel, Liuliqiao, Beijing West Railway Station
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station and Liuliqiao.
Beijing
Sofitel Beijing Central
Luxury international hotel in central Beijing with refined comfort and service.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International luxury hotel in Beijing, ideal for business trips and city breaks.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehiclesAir-conditioned private vehicles for all listed sightseeing and transfers, with airport and station pick-ups
- Hotels6 nights in selected stays, breakfast daily; the named list follows in your written confirmation
- GuidesLicensed English-speaking local guides in Beijing and Shanxi
- TicketsAll listed attractions, including the Mutianyu cable car
Not Included
- Long-haulInternational flights to Beijing and onward travel from Taiyuan
- Internal legsThe Beijing to Taiyuan high-speed rail tickets are quoted with your confirmation
- MealsBeyond daily breakfast, lunches and dinners remain flexible and are charged to your account, including the Taiyuan noodle evening.
- PersonalVisas, gratuities, single supplement and personal spending
Special Notes
A few things on this route depend on flight times or the day's flow. Here they are, told straight.
- Arrival day — The Shichahai walk flexes to your landing time; a late arrival keeps the first evening at the hotel.
- Olympic Park — A time-allowing stop on the drive back from Mutianyu; if the wall deserves the full day, the wall wins.
- Hotels and venues — Named in your confirmation; or similar means the same class and comparable location.
Is Seven Days Your Length?
Tell us your dates and who is coming: we will shape the length around you.
Got the full week?
This is the whole argument, empire to originals, in the right order.
Shorter on days?
Tell us what matters most and we'll tailor the itinerary to fit, without rushing the rest.
Want more of Shanxi?
The province rewards extra days; tell us your dates and we will say what to add.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private; from 1 guest: no minimum
- Arrival
- Day 1 is your arrival day; the afternoon schedule adapts to your actual landing time.
- Language
- English-speaking guides throughout
- Shopping Policy
- No shopping stops or commission detours on the route; your time is dedicated solely to the places listed here.
- Tailoring
- Fully flexible. Days, stops, and pace can be added, removed, or swapped. We'll reshape the plan together before you confirm and pay.
- Payment
- A 10% deposit, minimum $399, secures your dates and resources; the balance is due 14 days before departure.
- Flexibility
- Walking distances adapt to your pace; time-dependent stops are listed in Special Notes
- Season
- Spring and autumn are comfortable; winters are cold and clear, with fewer crowds.
- Ports
- Beijing In · Taiyuan Out
- Gateway markets
- Lead country marker: GB. Gateway markets from inventory: UK, WEU, NCEU, CA. Taiyuan outbound access may need a connection.
- Advance booking
- The Shanxi Museum is reserved 3 days ahead; your travel designer books it once your dates are confirmed
Your Private Concierge Service
Jenny
China Private Travel Route Consultant
“A concierge desk offering bilingual planning services for bespoke China journeys”
Our China team carefully tailors the pace of the itinerary, hotel arrangements, and local reception services to suit the style of each route.
20+
Years
300+
Trips Designed
24/7
On-Trip Care
Step 01
Tell us what excites you
Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.
24h
First concept delivered
Step 02
We design it around you
Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.
100%
Private, never off-the-shelf
Step 03
Lock it in with 30%
When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.
30%
Deposit to confirm
Step 04
Travel. We handle the rest.
Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.
24/7
Support throughout your journey
Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe
Guest Reviews
4.9 / 5 · from 523 verified reviews
E
Emily Carter
🇺🇸 Seattle, USA
Perfect for couples
“My partner and I had an amazing time in China. Everything was arranged for us — transfers, hotels, guides. No stress at all.”
May 2026
C
Claire Brooks
🇬🇧 London, UK
Great for families
“Traveled with my two kids and had zero issues. The team made sure the pace wasn't too rushed and included things the kids would enjoy. Communication was easy throughout. Will definitely use them again for our next Asia trip.”
Apr 2026
L
Laura Bennett
🇨🇦 Toronto, Canada
Alisa made the whole experience easy
“Alisa was our point of contact throughout and she was brilliant — patient, knowledgeable, and always quick to reply. The trip itself was wonderful. Beijing and Guilin were highlights.”
Mar 2026
M
Mark Henderson
🇺🇸 Denver, USA
Good service, minor hiccup but sorted quickly
“Really good service. There was a small mix-up with one of our restaurant bookings but it got sorted quickly. The rest of the trip was seamless.”
Feb 2026
R
Rebecca Miller
🇺🇸 Boston, USA
Really listened to what we wanted
“Really helpful team. They listened to what we wanted and delivered. Beijing and Xi'an were incredible.”
Jan 2026
China Ready
We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.
Do this before you fly
VPN & Internet Access
What's blocked
Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.
Download before you leave
It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.
Hotel Wi-Fi tip
Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.
Good news
WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.
Your concierge sets this up on Day 1
Paying in China
China is cashless
Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.
International cards now work
Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.
Carry some cash
We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.
Booking this trip
Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.
We handle the paperwork
Visa & Entry
Do you need a visa?
Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.
240-hour visa-free transit
Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.
Processing time
Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.
What we provide
Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.
Our responsibility, always
Safety & Practical Tips
Is China safe?
China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.
Health & medications
Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.
Language
English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
Shanxi preserves older layers of Chinese architecture and religious art: wooden halls, painted clay sculptures, Buddhist grottoes and a walled banking town, all within practical driving distance of Taiyuan.
No. The game drew from Shanxi's monuments and sculptural tradition; this route stands in that tradition at Shuanglin, Jinci and Tianlongshan rather than chasing scene matches.
Moderate and adjustable. The cable car handles the main climb at Mutianyu; temple, museum and old-town days are level walking.
Tastes diverge over a week. Breakfast is included, while your guide recommends and books other meals around your tastes and you pay the restaurant directly.
