Red temple gates and a stone bridge crowning the Zhangjiajie pinnacles above a sea of clouds in China

Essential China: From the Forbidden City to the Avatar Mountains

A 14-day journey through Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai with Spanish-speaking guides, 5-star hotels, bullet trains and domestic flights included.

Guaranteed Departure 14 Days / 13 Nights 5-star hotel with buffet breakfast
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Trip Overview and Departures

Discover China on a 14-day guided tour designed to cover the country's essentials in a single journey. Walk the Great Wall of China, stand before the Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an, cruise the Li River through Guilin's karst landscapes, and ride up to the Avatar mountains of Zhangjiajie — the real-life scenery behind the film. The journey ends in Shanghai, where ancient China meets its most modern face. Five-star hotels, bullet trains, domestic flights, and cultural experiences included: a fully organized China tour from start to finish.

Weekly departures

Guaranteed departures: these dates operate as published.

  • Duration: 14 days · 13 nights
  • Group size: 2–28 travelers
  • Trip hosted in: Bilingual (English & Spanish)
  • Getting there: International flights to/from China are not included; domestic flights and high-speed trains within the program are included.
  • Getting around: Domestic economy-class flights (taxes included) and 2nd-class high-speed trains Beijing–Xi'an and Guilin–Zhangjiajie.

How long is the Essential China tour?

14 days and 13 nights across Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai, with weekly guaranteed departures from 2 travelers.

What is included in the price?

5-star hotels with breakfast, meals per program, domestic flights, high-speed trains, transfers, entrance fees and Spanish-speaking guides in the main cities.

Which places does the tour visit?

The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, the Li River, the Longji terraces, Zhangjiajie's Avatar mountains, Tianmen Mountain and Shanghai's Yuyuan Garden.

Photos from This Itinerary

Swipe through the moments you will actually live on this trip.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

  1. 1

    Beijing

    Arrival in Beijing, China's majestic capital. Transfer to the hotel and the rest of the day free to rest or begin exploring its broad avenues and ancient temples. Overnight in Beijing.

  2. 2

    Beijing

    Explore the city's imperial symbols: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Enjoy a tasting at a traditional tea house and visit a local family in a hutong for a paper-cutting demonstration. Tonight, savor Beijing's celebrated Peking duck. Optional: the Golden Mask Dynasty show, a spectacular blend of dance, acrobatics and visual effects. Overnight in Beijing.

  3. 3

    Beijing

    A day for two World Heritage treasures: the Great Wall at Juyongguan and the elegant Summer Palace, with a traditional Zhajiang-noodle lunch and a visit to a pearl workshop. Optional: an astonishing acrobatics show at the Red Theatre. Overnight in Beijing.

  4. 4

    Beijing – Xi'an

    Bullet train to Xi'an, cradle of ancient dynasties and the end of the legendary Silk Road. Arrival and free time to begin discovering this millennial city. Overnight in Xi'an.

  5. 5

    Xi'an

    Stand before the Terracotta Army, one of the world's great archaeological wonders, then visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, the Muslim Quarter and the City Wall, with a traditional shadow-puppet performance at the Gao family mansion. Dumpling dinner tonight. Optional: the Tang Dynasty show. Overnight in Xi'an.

  6. 6

    Xi'an – Guilin

    Flight to Guilin, a city surrounded by unique natural landscapes. Transfer to the hotel and the rest of the day free by the Li River. Overnight in Guilin.

  7. 7

    Guilin

    Excursion to the spectacular Longji Rice Terraces, home to the Zhuang and Yao minorities, with a local lunch featuring bamboo-cooked rice. Optional: a night cruise on the Four Lakes. Overnight in Guilin.

  8. 8

    Guilin – Yangshuo – Guilin

    Cruise the Li River among mountains that seem to float on the water — one of China's most iconic views. In Yangshuo, join an inspiring Tai Chi class with a local master and enjoy free time in its charming streets. Dinner included; return to Guilin.

  9. 9

    Guilin – Zhangjiajie

    Train to Zhangjiajie, a natural paradise of rock formations that inspired the floating mountains of Avatar. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Zhangjiajie.

  10. 10

    Zhangjiajie

    Full day in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain and the Bailong Elevator, the world's tallest outdoor lift, amid dreamlike scenery. Overnight in Zhangjiajie.

  11. 11

    Zhangjiajie

    Visit the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and its astonishing Glass Bridge, then ascend by cable car to Tianmen Mountain, walk its glass skywalk and visit the monumental Tianmen Cave. Overnight in Zhangjiajie.

  12. 12

    Zhangjiajie – Shanghai

    Flight to Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan metropolis. Transfer to the hotel and free time to enjoy its lights and avant-garde architecture. Overnight in Shanghai.

  13. 13

    Shanghai

    Visit the Jade Buddha Temple, the serene Yuyuan Garden and a silk workshop. Dinner included tonight. Optional: the TV Tower observation deck or a relaxing Huangpu River cruise between the city's traditional and modern faces. Overnight in Shanghai.

  14. 14

    Shanghai

    Breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight. End of services.

The circular Hall of Prayer of the Temple of Heaven rising over marble terraces in Beijing on a guided China tour
Temple of Heaven, Beijing
Travelers sharing a traditional Peking duck dinner under red lanterns on a China tour
Peking duck dinner, Beijing
Visitors crossing the Zhangjiajie glass bridge high above a forested canyon in China
Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

Cities and the order of visits may vary to ensure the best possible tour.

What's Included in This Trip

Included

  • 13 nights in 5-star hotels with buffet breakfast
  • Airport/station–hotel transfers
  • Lunches and dinners per program (one soft drink per person per meal)
  • Entrance fees for the visits and activities listed in the itinerary
  • Air-conditioned vehicles during services
  • Domestic economy-class flights, taxes included
  • 2nd-class high-speed trains Beijing–Xi'an and Guilin–Zhangjiajie
  • Spanish-speaking local guides in Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai (English elsewhere)
  • Two bottles of water per person per day
  • Visits to traditional workshops/shops (non-cancellable)

Not included

  • International flights to/from China
  • China visa fees and processing
  • Travel and cancellation insurance
  • Optional excursions
  • Personal expenses and gratuities

Hotels, Documents and Good to Know

Key Details

  • Travel insurance: we strongly recommend travel assistance and cancellation coverage — ask your advisor to add it to your booking.
  • Gratuities for guides and drivers are not included.
  • Valid passport required (copy needed at booking for the invitation letter).
  • A passport copy is required at booking to issue the invitation letter.

Hotels

  • Hotel class: 5-star hotel with buffet breakfast
  • Hotel: Sofitel Beijing Central — Beijing or similar
  • Hotel: Crowne Plaza Beijing Lido — Beijing or similar
  • Hotel: Crowne Plaza Xian Weiyang — Xi'an or similar
  • Hotel: Sofitel Xian Renmin Square — Xi'an or similar
  • Hotel: Sheraton Guilin — Guilin or similar
  • Hotel: Lijiang Waterfall Hotel — Guilin or similar
  • Hotel: Pullman — Zhangjiajie or similar
  • Hotel: Wyndham Wulingyuan — Zhangjiajie or similar
  • Hotel: Wyndham Pudong — Shanghai or similar
  • Hotel: Wyndham Nanxiang — Shanghai or similar
  • Hotel: Crowne Plaza Noah Square — Shanghai or similar
  • Seats held on deposit.
  • Balance due 45 days before departure.

Documents & Visa

  • Passport: Valid passport required (copy needed at booking for the invitation letter).
  • Visa: China visa required for most nationalities; ask your advisor.
  • Travelers can join from any gateway worldwide; we arrange departures from any airport, or you can meet the group at the destination.

Good to Know

  • Most hotels have more twin rooms than doubles; king beds cannot be guaranteed. The itinerary order may vary without altering its content. Visits to traditional workshops (about 30–40 minutes) are non-cancellable. Airport and station transfers operate with English-speaking assistance. Checked baggage on domestic flights is limited to 20 kg plus a 7 kg carry-on; on trains, passengers carry their own luggage aboard. During Chinese national holidays (the first weeks of May and October) major sites can be busy. If Forbidden City tickets are unavailable, the visit is replaced with an alternative without refund. Confirmed hotels are notified about 30 days before departure and may differ from those on the invitation letter; the operator may adjust schedules or services for operational reasons.

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Questions About This Trip

Do I need a visa to visit China?
Most travelers, including U.S. citizens, need a Chinese tourist (L) visa, and a passport copy is required at booking so we can issue the invitation letter that supports your application. Some travelers qualify for China's visa-free transit programs of up to 240 hours in select cities, depending on nationality and routing. Your Piccola Travel advisor confirms the current requirements for your passport before you apply.

Is this a China tour with Spanish-speaking guides?
Yes. Spanish-speaking local guides lead the visits in Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai, and the remaining services operate with English-speaking guides — a truly bilingual experience. Groups run from 2 to 28 travelers, and every weekly departure is guaranteed with just 2.

What hotels are included on this China tour?
Thirteen nights in 5-star hotels with daily buffet breakfast — properties such as Sofitel and Crowne Plaza in Beijing and Xi'an, Sheraton in Guilin, Pullman in Zhangjiajie and Wyndham in Shanghai, or similar. Most rooms are twin-bedded; king beds cannot be guaranteed.

Can you arrange my international flights to China?
Yes. The tour price covers everything on the ground plus domestic flights and bullet trains inside China, and your advisor can quote round-trip international airfare from your preferred U.S. gateway — or coordinate the tour around tickets you book with miles. Either way, arrival and departure transfers are matched to your flights.

When is the best time to visit China?
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) bring the mildest weather for the Great Wall, the Li River and Zhangjiajie. Summer is lush and lively, and winter means fewer crowds at the major sites. With weekly departures year-round you can pick the season that fits you — just note that the first weeks of May and October are Chinese national holidays, when landmarks are at their busiest.

Is China safe for tourists?
Yes — China is one of the safest destinations for international travelers, with very low rates of violent crime and excellent infrastructure. On this tour you travel with local guides who handle logistics, tickets and transport, so the common frustrations like the language barrier are managed for you. Normal travel precautions in crowded areas are all that's needed.

Will my phone, WhatsApp and Google work in China?
With U.S. international roaming or a travel eSIM, most travelers keep using WhatsApp, Google and their usual apps normally. On local Wi-Fi networks many Western apps are restricted, so we recommend activating roaming or an eSIM before departure — your advisor shares a simple connectivity checklist with your booking.

How do I pay for things in China — cash or card?
China runs on mobile payments: Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign Visa and Mastercard, and setting them up before departure takes minutes. Hotels and larger shops take international cards, and a small amount of cash in yuan is a useful backup. Meals listed in the itinerary are already included, so day-to-day expenses stay low.