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Overview
Most China plans for a family are built for the fittest person in the party, then quietly ask the oldest one to keep up. This one is built the other way around. Four cities, three internal flights, and two whole days given to travel and nothing else. In Beijing the Great Wall is reached by cable car and left by toboggan. In Chengdu an afternoon goes to a bamboo chair and a lidded cup. In Zhangjiajie an elevator runs up through the rock face, so the sandstone pillars arrive at eye level for everyone at once. Shanghai closes it with a garden, a river and a skyline. You'll notice, somewhere in the second week, that nobody in your party is being waited for.
— LyrikTrip travel designers
Every LyrikTrip journey begins with a conversation. Tell us your dates and who is coming, the oldest and the youngest included, and we build the twelve days around the slowest walker rather than the fastest. First reply within four hours; a clear price for your dates within one business day. If the room types this route waits on are not confirmed for your dates, we tell you that in the first reply instead of taking a deposit.
Why you'll love this trip
- Four cities at one pace. The Forbidden City, pandas, a Great Wall toboggan and a Huangpu River ferry, with English-speaking guides city by city.
- 12 days from a panda at breakfast to the pillars at eye level. See China together.
- Ride the cable car up to Mutianyu Great Wall and come back down the toboggan: the whole party gets onto the wall the same way, and off it laughing.
- Give a whole People's Park afternoon to one gaiwan of tea, refilled for as long as you stay: this is the day nobody asks what's next.
- Step out of an elevator built into a cliff and find the sandstone pillars standing at eye level: the oldest and the youngest in your party arrive at that view in the same breath.
- Cross the Huangpu River on the ferry Shanghai commuters use, then stand on the Bund as the towers opposite light up, your guide beside you the whole evening.
- Sleep three nights each in Beijing, Chengdu and Zhangjiajie: unpacking happens four times in twelve days, not eight.
Things to do
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Itinerary
Arrivals
Beijing · Day 1 - Day 3
· Landing, and nothing after it
Your driver is at arrivals; the day ends at the hotel. Twelve days start by giving you one evening back.
· The palace, then a pair of shoes
One direction through the Forbidden City, one workbench after it. The first day sets the pace the other eleven keep.
· Up by cable car, down by chute
The Great Wall with the climb taken out of it. Everyone in the party stands on the same wall today.
Flight
Chengdu · Day 4 - Day 6
· A day given to getting there
Beijing to Chengdu, and nothing else on the page. Two days like this are why the mountain days can be full ones.
· Pandas early, tea all afternoon
The morning is booked for animals and the afternoon is booked for nothing. Chengdu is where this trip changes gear.
· A market, a wok, a painted face
You buy it, you cook it, then somebody changes faces in front of you. This is the day the children run the trip.
Flight
Zhangjiajie · Day 7 - Day 9
· Into the mountains, slowly
Chengdu to Zhangjiajie, one flight, no sightseeing. Arrive with the legs you'll need tomorrow.
· The lift inside the cliff
Into the rock at the bottom, out of it at the top. Today the pillars come to eye level for everyone at once.
· The high terrace and the valley floor
Morning above the pillars, afternoon among them. The park reads differently from each height.
Flight
Shanghai · Day 10 - Day 12
· Out of the mountains
Zhangjiajie to Shanghai, the last of the three flight days. Legs up; the city can wait until tomorrow.
· Garden, river, skyline
A garden in the morning, a working ferry at dusk, the towers lighting up after it. Twelve days end at water level.
· Home, with a pair of shoes in the bag
Breakfast, then the airport. The souvenir was made on day two.
Departures
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Hotels
These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel
Pullman Zhangjiajie, in Wulingyuan District, offers easy access to the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area plus taxi pickup.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
A practical Chengdu base for travellers who want easy city access, relaxed days out, and a comfortable return after sightseeing.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie Rezen One S Hotel
An upscale city hotel offering comfortable accommodation, dining, and meeting facilities, making it an ideal base for travelers exploring Zhangjiajie’s scenic attractions.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Center.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel
Pullman Zhangjiajie, in Wulingyuan District, offers easy access to the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area plus taxi pickup.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
A practical Chengdu base for travellers who want easy city access, relaxed days out, and a comfortable return after sightseeing.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie Rezen One S Hotel
An upscale city hotel offering comfortable accommodation, dining, and meeting facilities, making it an ideal base for travelers exploring Zhangjiajie’s scenic attractions.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Center.
Shanghai
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel (Shanghai International Resort)
Shanghai Royal Garden Hotel: a luxury garden hotel near Pudong Airport and Disneyland, with free shuttle service to both.
Beijing
Atour Hotel (Beijing West Railway Station South Square)
Upscale local hotel near Beijing West Railway Station South Square.
Zhangjiajie
Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel
Pullman Zhangjiajie, in Wulingyuan District, offers easy access to the UNESCO-listed Wulingyuan Scenic Area plus taxi pickup.
Beijing
Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast
International high-end hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and city stays.
Shanghai
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel
Pullman Shanghai Zhongganghui Hotel, in Dapuqiao near Tianzifang, steps from Metro Line 9 and the Expo site.
Chengdu
Hilton Chengdu Chenghua
A practical Chengdu base for travellers who want easy city access, relaxed days out, and a comfortable return after sightseeing.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie Rezen One S Hotel
An upscale city hotel offering comfortable accommodation, dining, and meeting facilities, making it an ideal base for travelers exploring Zhangjiajie’s scenic attractions.
Beijing
DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road
International upscale hotel in Beijing, suitable for business and leisure stays.
Shanghai
Atour S Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Centre Aegean
Atour S Hotel in Hongqiao: steps from Aegean Place and Metro Line 10, six km from the National Exhibition and Convention Center.
Included / Excluded
What's Included
- Private vehicleAir-conditioned private vehicle for all listed touring in all four cities; airport pickup in Beijing on day one and drop-off in Shanghai on day twelve; hotel and airport transfers at both ends of each internal flight; in Zhangjiajie, the drives between your hotel and the Wulingyuan ticket gate on both mountain days
- Internal flightsThree flights: Beijing to Chengdu, Chengdu to Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie to Shanghai. The cabin class for your booking is stated in writing with your quote
- Hotels11 nights at your chosen level, breakfast included: 3 nights Beijing, 3 Chengdu, 3 Zhangjiajie, 2 Shanghai
- GuideLicensed English-speaking guide on every touring day in each city, and beside you for the whole Bund evening in Shanghai
- Beijing tickets & experiencesForbidden City with the timed reservation booked by us; Mutianyu Great Wall entry with the cable car up; the toboggan down; the cloth-shoe workshop with the finished piece to take home
- Chengdu tickets & experiencesPanda base morning session; People's Park teahouse with your gaiwan seat and refills for as long as you sit; the market visit with the cooking instructor and the Sichuan home-cooking class; the community opera theater including backstage and face-changing
- Zhangjiajie tickets & experiencesWulingyuan core scenic area entry, which admits Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and the Golden Whip Stream section; the Bailong Elevator both up and down; the Tianzi Mountain cable car up; the Tujia brocade workshop visit
- Shanghai tickets & experiencesYu Garden and the old city; the Huangpu River commuter ferry crossing; the Bund and the skyline opposite in the evening, guide accompanied
- MealsAll 11 hotel breakfasts, day two through day twelve
- InsuranceTravel accident insurance on our standing product terms
Not Included
- International flightsYour flights into Beijing and out of Shanghai
- VisasVisa fees and processing for guests who need a Chinese visa, US passports included
- MealsBeyond the 11 breakfasts: all lunches and dinners are recommended and booked by your guide, on your account
- Tianmen Mountain and the glass walkwaysNeither is on this itinerary, and neither is sold with this route
- Optional add-onsNone are offered on this route at present; nothing optional is added by default
- PersonalGratuities, single or extra-room difference, personal spending
Special Notes
A few things on this route are still being settled, and a few follow the season. Here they are, told straight.
- Rooms for three generations — parties like yours want rooms that open into each other. We are confirming a bookable connecting or family room type in each of the four cities, and until those types are named in your written confirmation this route takes no order and no deposit. We would rather hold the route than sell you a corridor between the grandparents and the children.
- Booking calendar — no departures during the national holiday week, October 1 to 8, when the queue for the Bailong Elevator runs to hours and a three-generation party pays for that in standing time. Day two never falls on a Monday, when the Forbidden City is closed; if your dates would put it there, days two and three swap.
- Winter operation in Zhangjiajie — the lifts and cable cars on this route run to a winter schedule with annual maintenance shutdowns, and the scenic area publishes it each season. We confirm December departures only after that announcement is in hand; until then the departure window we sell on this route is October 9 to December 20, 2026.
- Fog on the mountain — fog can close the Yuanjiajie viewpoints for a morning. When it does, days eight and nine swap on the ground. If both mountain days are fogged out, we arrange an evening light show at Tianmen Mountain at our cost as a fallback; it is never sold as part of this route.
- Monkeys along the Golden Whip Stream — wild macaques live along the stream and will take food from an open hand. Nothing edible is carried in the open on that walk and children walk hand in hand with an adult. Your guide says this out loud at the gate, and it is repeated in your confirmation.
- Shuttle buses inside Wulingyuan — the scenic area runs its own shuttle buses between the gates and the trailheads. Whether their fare sits inside the entry ticket on our purchasing terms is being confirmed with the park, and your quote states the answer in writing before you pay anything. Nobody should meet an unannounced charge inside the gate.
- Meals — 11 breakfasts are in your price and nothing else is counted as an included meal on this route. Lunches and dinners are recommended and booked by your guide, on your account, which keeps the children's food and the grandparents' food answerable day by day.
- Hotels — named in your written confirmation; "or similar" always means the same class and comparable location, never a quiet downgrade.
Is Twelve Days Your Length?
More days, or fewer?
More days, or fewer?
The four cities stand on their own, so we cut cities rather than compress days. Tell us how long you have and who is coming, the oldest and the youngest included, and we shape it from there.
Good to Know
- Group
- Private, just your party. From 1 guest. No fixed maximum party size.
- Ports
- Beijing in, Shanghai out; airport pickup on day one and drop-off on day twelve are both in your price
- Pace
- Three nights each in Beijing, Chengdu and Zhangjiajie, two in Shanghai; three flight days carry no sightseeing
- Climbs
- Every ascent on this route is by lift or cable car: the Mutianyu cable car, the Bailong Elevator, the Tianzi Mountain cable car
- Visas
- UK, European and Canadian passports enter visa-free for days. Australia and New Zealand do the same. We check your dates fit that window before you pay. US passports need a Chinese visa for this route: tourist or business, including 10-year multiple-entry. Fees and processing are not included. The in-person appointment and fingerprints need time before departure, and we confirm the visa is in hand before any payment
- Language
- Licensed English-speaking guide in each of the four cities
- Payment
- From 1 guest. A 10% deposit (minimum $399) locks your dates. The balance is due 14 days before departure. "Or similar" never means a quiet downgrade. These terms apply once the room types above are confirmed and this route opens for booking
- Flexibility
- The confirmation deadline and the change and refund conditions for your dates are listed in writing with your quote; note that a date change on this route touches three internal flights as well as hotels
- Season
- October to December: clear light in the pillars, cold mornings on the mountain, layers for the grandparents
Your Private Concierge
Jenessa
Private China Route Concierge
“A bilingual planning desk for tailor-made China journeys.”
Our China team tunes pacing, hotels and local hosts around each route style.
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 traveler 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 traveler.
Before You Book
Everything worth knowing before you book.
No. Every ascent on this route is done by lift or cable car: the cable car up to Mutianyu Great Wall, the Bailong Elevator up to the Yuanjiajie clifftop, the cable car up Tianzi Mountain. The clifftop paths are level and the viewpoints are minutes apart. The one walking section along the Golden Whip Stream is flat valley floor. Your guide cuts it to your party on the day, between one and three hours.
Not yet, and we will not pretend otherwise. Connecting and family room types are the one thing this route is still waiting on in all four cities. Until a bookable type is confirmed and named in your written confirmation, we take no order and no deposit on this route. What you get in the meantime is a straight answer per city as each one lands, and your dates held in the conversation rather than in a payment.
Yes. The US is not on the 30-day visa-free list. This plan runs 12 days, which is longer than the 10-day visa-free transit policy allows, so there is no second route. Every US guest travels on a Chinese visa: tourist or business, including 10-year multiple-entry. Fees and processing are not in your price, the in-person appointment and fingerprints need time before departure, and we confirm the visa is in hand before any payment. If you already entered China under the transit policy, this route does not work for you and we say so rather than sell it.
Fog closes the Yuanjiajie viewpoints some mornings and no one can promise a clear one. Two things absorb it: the two mountain days swap on the ground, so the walking day takes the fog and the viewpoint day takes the clear one; and if both days are fogged out, we arrange the evening light show at Tianmen Mountain at our cost. You still come back with the elevator, the valley floor, the stream and the loom, all of which read the same in cloud.
Usually not, because that day is only half palace. The Forbidden City is walked in one direction and finishes in the garden, then the afternoon goes to a workbench where children paste, press and stitch a cloth sole and take the finished piece home. If your children are very young, tell us and we shorten the palace half and lengthen the bench half.
