01Day 1
The departure-date booking includes one pickup from Beijing Capital or Daxing airport. Meet the guide and other guests for a short briefing at the hotel that evening.
17 DAYS / 16 NIGHTS · SMALL GROUP · NO SHOPPING
Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangtze Cruise & Shanghai: 17‑Day Small-Group Tour
Two 2027 departures, 8 guests to run and 12 at most
On the 2027 Beijing–Xi’an–Chengdu–Yangtze–Shanghai 17-day small group, one place costs USD 3,490 sharing a twin room and standard balcony cabin; international flights are extra. It leaves on 19 May or 1 September with 8–12 guests. On the river you share the ship and its programme with other passengers.
Price per person
Published price for selected groupUSD 3,490per person · Twin share · small group · 8–12 guests, fixed dates · international flights not included
Prices are shown in USD. We confirm the payment currency, exchange rate and total in your written quote before you pay.
Request a quoteOr chat on WhatsApp
Need a different group size?We confirm room needs, luggage count and a suitable vehicle before sending a written quote.Plan this journey
- Journey
- 17 days / 16 nights
- Touring
- Guide and vehicle days confirmed in writing
- Stay
- 16 nights · scope confirmed in writing
- Price
- Per person, sharing a twin room
The shape of the journey
Two 2027 departures, 8 guests to run and 12 at most
2027 departures, each 17 days: 19 May–4 June and 1–17 September. A twin-share place is USD 3,490. We confirm the group at 8 guests and close it at 12. If fewer than 8 have booked 45 days before departure, we quote a private tour for your actual party size in writing. You can accept it for the same dates or take a full refund of everything paid to us.
- 01
Departs 19 May and 1 September 2027
- 02
Runs at 8 guests, never more than 12
- 03
Full refund if the group does not run
- 04
A three-night Three Gorges cruise
Day by day
See how each day unfolds.
Arrival, core touring and departure are shown day by day. Opening hours, named-entry tickets and local conditions may change the order. If anything important needs to change, we discuss it with you.
Beijing city · Destination view - 02Day 2
The guide takes you through the Tiananmen area and into the Forbidden City with the ticket issued for your date. The museum closes on Mondays, so we set the Beijing day order after the reservation is confirmed.
Forbidden City seen from Jingshan on this route. The photograph illustrates the place; access, weather and the final day order are confirmed for your dates. - 03Day 3
The drive to Mutianyu takes about 90 minutes. A cable car or chairlift is included one way, leaving you to walk the restored wall at your pace. The toboggan is an extra.
Great Wall near Beijing - 04Day 4
Morning is a good time for the Temple of Heaven: local residents are often exercising in the park. Then walk by the Summer Palace lake. We check seasonal boat operation on the day.
The Temple of Heaven is a morning stop. - 05Day 5
The confirmed second-class train to Xi’an takes about 4.5–6 hours. A driver takes you to the Beijing station and another meets you in Xi’an; leave the evening free after the crossing.
Xi’an city · Destination view - 06Day 6
Do not rush the Terracotta Warriors: the guide has the morning and early afternoon there. Return to Xi’an for the City Wall when the light softens; you can walk or cycle it. The Muslim Quarter is free time in the evening.
Terracotta Army, Pit 1 - 07Day 7
The second-class train from Xi’an to Chengdu takes about 3–4.5 hours. There is still an afternoon for tea in People’s Park and a walk along Kuanzhai Alley.
Jin River, Chengdu - 08Day 8
The group reaches the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding near opening, when pandas are usually most active. After lunch it drives about an hour to Sanxingdui Museum for the bronze masks, if the timed tickets are issued.
Chengdu Panda Base - 09Day 9
It is about 1.5 hours by second-class high-speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing. Spend the afternoon around Jiefangbei and follow the riverside to Hongyadong after the lights come on. Sleep in Chongqing.
Chongqing city · Destination view - 10Day 10
Before boarding, there is time for the monorail at Liziba and the old hillside lanes. Boarding at Chaotianmen pier opens at about 18:00, dinner is served on the ship and it sails at about 21:00. If the water level or river control moves boarding to another pier, the cruise company runs a transfer from central Chongqing and your driver takes you to it.
Liziba monorail - 11Day 11
The included shore visit is usually Fengdu Ghost City in the morning; the rest of the day is on board. Stops such as Shuanggui Mountain and the evening show are paid options sold on the ship, and weather or the water level can change a stop.
Yangtze cruise ship example · Vessel confirmed for your sailing - 12Day 12
Around midday the ship sails through Qutang Gorge. In the afternoon the included side trip takes a smaller boat into the Lesser Three Gorges, and Wu Gorge follows from the deck. White Emperor City in the morning and the Mini Three Gorges are paid options.
Qutang Gorge - 13Day 13
Leave the ship at Maoping, just above the dam, at about 08:00 and visit the Three Gorges Dam. The cruise company’s coach reaches the cruise terminal in central Yichang at about 12:30, and we book the afternoon train to Shanghai, about six hours, or an evening flight from that time. Two paid add-ons sold on board get back later, at about 13:30 and 17:00; if you want one, tell us before we book. Lunch is on your own, and you reach Shanghai late.
Shanghai city · Destination view - 14Day 14
Start at Yu Garden and the old city with the guide. At the Bund, look across the river from the 1920s bank buildings to Pudong’s towers.
The final four nights are in Shanghai. - 15Day 15
The high-speed train puts Suzhou about 30 minutes from Shanghai. Visit one garden confirmed for the day, walk the canal lanes of Pingjiang Road and return to Shanghai.
Humble Administrator’s Garden - 16Day 16
The guide walks you through an old French Concession neighbourhood in the morning. The afternoon is yours: a museum, some independent shopping or time to pack.
Former French Concession · Destination view - 17Day 17
On the last group day, one transfer to Pudong or Hongqiao airport is included. Extra nights in Shanghai can be arranged separately.
Shanghai city · Destination view
Day 1 · Arrive in Beijing
Travel made seamless
Hotels, guides and transfers work together.
Your hotel level, guided days, transfers, route transport and principal admissions are planned together. We check availability for your dates before payment.
Stay
A room and a cabin to yourself have a single supplement from USD 1,090, covering every hotel night and the three cruise nights; the USD 3,490 per-person group fare assumes twin sharing. The Yangtze ship accounts for 3 of the 16 nights, in a standard balcony cabin on a five-star-rated vessel, normally with Gold Cruises. The other 13 are breakfast-included four-star standard hotels, rated 4 diamonds on Trip.com (Ctrip): 4 each in Beijing and Shanghai, 2 each in Xi'an and Chengdu, and 1 in Chongqing. We put the hotel names on your booking confirmation.
Guide, transport and admissions
The Yangtze booking includes the cabin, meals aboard from dinner on boarding night to breakfast on the last morning, and three shore visits, usually Fengdu Ghost City, the Lesser Three Gorges and the Three Gorges Dam. On land, the fare covers named admissions, second-class trains Beijing–Xi'an–Chengdu–Chongqing and Shanghai–Suzhou return, then a train or economy flight from Yichang to Shanghai. There is one Beijing arrival transfer and one Shanghai departure transfer on the group dates. English-speaking local guides and a group vehicle cover land touring days in each city.
Before you choose
What happens if the group does not reach 8 guests?
For Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangtze Cruise & Shanghai: 17-Day Small-Group Tour, we check numbers 45 days before departure. If fewer than 8 guests have booked, we quote a private tour for your actual party size in writing. You can accept it for the same dates or take a full refund of everything paid to us. The private price for two is USD 4,690 each, against USD 3,490 for a small-group place. Until the group is confirmed, book international flights you can change or refund.
Can I join on my own?
Solo travellers can join Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangtze Cruise & Shanghai: 17-Day Small-Group Tour. The USD 3,490 fare assumes two sharing; your own room and cabin cost a single supplement from USD 1,090. We do not assign strangers to share a room or cabin.
We are a group of 8 or more. Can we have our own departure?
Eight to twelve travelling together can book Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangtze Cruise & Shanghai: 17-Day Small-Group Tour on their own dates at USD 3,490 per person. For 13 or more, ask us for a separate quote. We check hotel rooms and tickets for those dates before booking.
How is this different from the private version?
Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangtze Cruise & Shanghai: 17-Day Small-Group Tour costs USD 3,490 per person on fixed 2027 dates for 8–12 guests; the Day 8 afternoon at Sanxingdui Museum is set. Hotels, route and inclusions match the private version. The private tour lets your party choose dates and use its own guide and vehicle, from USD 4,690 each for two or USD 3,790 for six.
Is there a tour leader for the whole trip?
Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangtze Cruise & Shanghai: 17-Day Small-Group Tour has no single leader travelling the whole route. English-speaking local guides handle touring days city by city, while drivers handle the station and airport handovers. There are no shopping stops.
Clear before payment
What is separate—and what your written quote will confirm.
The USD 3,490 starting price buys one place on a fixed departure, sharing a twin room. We need 8 booked guests to run and stop at 12. At 45 days out, if fewer than 8 have booked, we quote a private tour for your actual party size in writing. You can accept it for the same dates or take a full refund of everything paid to us. A party of 8–12 may choose its own date at the small-group price; ask us for a separate quote for 13 or more. Cruise cabins and the sailing are not reserved yet. We check availability for your departure, name the ship and cabin category in writing, and confirm the total before taking payment. The planned groups board on a Friday; the route or dates may need to change if the operator’s 2027 schedule differs. A party of 8–12 choosing its own date also needs a sailing from Chongqing on Day 10, which we check first. The September group is in Shanghai for the Mid-Autumn Festival on 15 September 2027, when the Bund and Yu Garden are busier. We confirm hotels, flights and the total in writing before payment.
Not included
- International flights to and from China
- Lunches, dinners and drinks on land (hotel breakfasts and onboard cruise meals are included)
- Travel insurance, visas, tips and personal expenses
- Room upgrades and public-holiday surcharges
- Single supplement for your own room and cabin, from USD 1,090
- Transfers on dates other than the group's arrival and departure days
- Checked baggage above the airline's included allowance
- Cruise gratuities, paid shore options sold on board (such as White Emperor City and the dam's ship lift) and cabin upgrades
Confirmed in writing
- Your dates, arrival and departure details
- The hotel, room arrangement and vehicle for the actual group
- Bookable admissions and the final total before payment
Plan the destination
Check the route against the destination guides.
Use these city hubs and decision guides to test the route's stay base, gateways and day order before enquiring.
Destination hubs
Decision guides
Compare a related published route
Photo credits
The location-specific external photographs are credited below. Only conventional cropping, resizing and WebP conversion were applied; no generative edits were made. Adapted CC BY-SA photos are shared under the linked CC BY-SA license.
- Forbidden City seen from JingshanPhoto by Pixelflake · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Temple of HeavenPhoto by xiquinhosilva / Xiquinho Silva · CC BY 2.0
- A Line 2 train at Liziba StationPhoto by David290 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Yangtze River cruise shipPhoto by Gaynor · CC BY 2.0
- Qutang Gorge on the Yangtze RiverPhoto by Tan Wei Liang Byorn · CC BY 3.0
- Wu GorgePhoto by Photnart · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Traditional buildings and pond in Yu GardenPhoto by King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Humble Administrator's GardenPhoto by Chainwit. · CC BY 4.0
- Pingjiang Road, SuzhouPhoto by kevinmcgill · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Former French ConcessionPhoto by Fabio Achilli · CC BY 2.0
- Chengdu Panda BasePhoto by George Lu · CC BY 2.0
- Sanxingdui MuseumPhoto by STW932 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Bund, ShanghaiPhoto by Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Jin River, ChengduPhoto by tyrosin · CC BY 2.0
- Terracotta Army, Pit 1Photo by Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China · CC0
- Great Wall near BeijingPhoto by Francesco Bini · CC BY-SA 4.0
All remaining photographs were selected from the Homeground project library and authorised by the site owner for this website. Only routine cropping, resizing and format conversion were applied.