13-Day Ancient Capitals of China Private Tour

Beijing, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Dengfeng, Luoyang, Xian, Shanghai

Traveler Reviews

13 Days Explore Ancient Capitals of China tour map

Forbidden City in Beijing travel experience

Terracotta Army in Xian travel experience

Tour Type: Private Tour

Tour Code: SKY-Cultural-04

Tour Highlights:

Follow China's history through Beijing, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Dengfeng, Luoyang, Xi'an and Shanghai.
Visit imperial palaces, early Buddhist sites, historic city quarters and major archaeological landmarks.
Travel with private guiding, pre-arranged transport and practical support throughout the route.

Best Travel Time:
March through November offers the most suitable overall conditions for this multi-city cultural journey.

From $ 1790

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Tour Itinerary

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Itinerary

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Day 1Beijing

Transfer service to hotel

Meals: No Meals
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing ★★★★

Arrive in Beijing and meet your YUNSKY guide at the airport. Transfer to the hotel, complete check-in and keep the remainder of the day free to rest after your journey.

Beijing City View

Day 2Beijing

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Panjiayuan Antique Market

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin the first full day of sightseeing in historic Beijing.

[09:30-12:30] Start at Tian'anmen Square, then walk into the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace. Continue to Jingshan Park and climb Coal Hill for a panoramic view across the palace roofs.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at Shi Yuan Restaurant, where the listed local dishes include braised eggplant, vegetable balls and diced chicken with walnuts in soy sauce.

[14:00-16:30] Visit the Temple of Heaven, the ceremonial complex where emperors prayed for good harvests. Afterwards, browse Panjiayuan Antique Market and Pearl Market.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. On the way, ask your guide for advice about an evening show or a Peking duck dinner.

Forbidden City

Day 3Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Park, The exterior Bird Nest and Water Cube

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing★★★★

[08:00-08:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and leave for the Great Wall.

[08:30-12:30] Drive to Mutianyu Great Wall. On arrival, choose between hiking on the restored wall or taking the cable car up before walking along the ramparts.

[12:30-13:30] Stop for lunch at Xiaolongpu Restaurant, whose listed vegetable dishes include fried vegetables, dry-fried beans and sweet corn cake.

[13:30-16:30] Drive back toward Beijing, with time to rest in the vehicle. Stop outside the Bird Nest and Water Cube, then visit a teahouse for a Chinese tea experience.

[16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Optional evening ideas include a foot massage, Houhai bars or Sanlitun Bar Street.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4Beijing

Summer Palace, Hutong tour by rickshaw

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunworld Hotel Beijing Wangfujing★★★★

[09:30-10:00] After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a relaxed half-day program in Beijing.

[10:00-11:30] Head to the Drum Tower area for a Hutong Tour by rickshaw and a closer look at the lanes and everyday neighborhood life.

[11:30-14:30] Continue to the Summer Palace,, Beijing's largest surviving imperial garden. A boat ride on Kunming Lake is included, followed by lunch at nearby Xiangyangtun Restaurant with its indoor opera stage.

Keep the afternoon free to explore Wangfujing Commercial Street or Dashilar near Qianmen, where many long-established shops remain.

Hutong Tour by Rickshaw

Day 5Beijing – Zhengzhou

Yellow River Scenic Area

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Holiday Inn Zhengzhou ★★★★

Take a morning high-speed train to Zhengzhou in Henan Province; the journey lasts 3-3.5 hours. After arrival, visit the Yellow River Scenic Area and take the scheduled jet-boat ride along one section of the river.

Yellow River Scenic Area

Day 6Zhengzhou – Kaifeng – Zhengzhou

Dragon Pavilion, Iron Pagoda, Xiangguo Monastery

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Holiday Inn Zhengzhou ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Have breakfast at the hotel, then meet your guide in the lobby for the day's excursion.

[09:30-12:30] Drive about two hours from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng. Begin at Dragon Pavilion, where a Song-dynasty wax museum and regularly staged historical performances introduce the former capital's past.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch and sample local dishes at a restaurant in Kaifeng.

[14:00-16:30] Visit the Iron Pagoda, originally known as Kaibao Temple Pagoda and built in 1049 during the Song dynasty. Continue to Xiangguo Monastery, one of China's historically prominent Buddhist monasteries.

[16:30-18:30] Drive back to Zhengzhou and keep the evening free.

Dragon Pavilion Park

Day 7Zhengzhou – Dengfeng

Shaolin Temple and the Pagoda Forest

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Chanwu Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Have breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and check out.

[09:30-11:30] Travel approximately 74 km from Zhengzhou to Dengfeng; the drive takes about two hours.

[12:00-13:00] Stop for lunch at a local restaurant and take a short break after the drive.

[13:30-16:00] Continue to Mt Songshan and visit Shaolin Temple and the Pagoda Forest at the foot of the mountain. The program includes the scheduled vegetarian food and a Kung Fu performance by martial-arts practitioners.

[16:00-17:00] Transfer to the hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free; your guide can assist if you wish to arrange the optional Shaolin Zen Music Ritual.

Shaolin Temple

Day 8Dengfeng – Luoyang

Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang Museum of Folk Customs

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Yaxiang Jinling Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide, check out and begin the transfer back toward Luoyang.

[09:30-11:30] Drive from Dengfeng to Luoyang, a journey of about two hours.

[12:00-13:00] Have lunch at a local restaurant and try regional dishes.

[13:00-17:00] Visit the Longmen Grottoes, whose Buddhist carvings line the cliffs beside the river. Continue to Luoyang Museum of Folk Customs and walk through the Ming and Qing Old Town to learn more about local traditions and the city's history.

[17:00-18:00] Transfer to the hotel, check in and keep the evening free.

Longmen Grottoes

Day 9Luoyang – Xian

White Horse Temple, Emperor Carriage Museum

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Bell Tower Grand New Century Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and check out.

[09:30-12:30] Visit White Horse Temple, founded in AD 68 during the Eastern Han dynasty and traditionally regarded as China's first Buddhist temple after Buddhism's arrival. Before lunch, continue to the Emperor Carriage Museum, built over relics dating from 770 B.C.

[12:30-13:30] Have lunch at a local restaurant.

After a short break, transfer to Luoyang Railway Station for the afternoon high-speed train to Xian. The journey takes about two hours; meet your Xi'an guide at the station and transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Xian City View

Day 10Xian

Terracotta Warriors, Bell Tower, Gao's Courtyard, Muslim Quarter

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Bell Tower Grand New Century Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and set out to explore ancient Xi'an.

[09:30-12:30] Drive to the Terracotta Warriors and examine the excavated soldiers, horses and chariots arranged in battle formation. A shuttle bus is included for convenience.

[12:30-14:00] Have lunch at Lanchi Restaurant, whose buffet includes dim sum, noodles and Chinese hamburgers.

[14:00-17:00] Visit the Bell tower, then enter Gao's Courtyard to see a traditional residence and learn about paper-cutting and shadow puppetry. Finish with time in the Muslim Quarter for its streets, shops and local snacks.

[17:00-17:30] Return to the hotel. Ask your guide about the optional Tang Dynasty Show with Dinner if you would like an evening performance.

Terracotta Warriors

Day 11Xian – Shanghai

Ancient City Wall, Wild Goose Pagoda and north square, Hanyang Tomb

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunrise On The Bund Hotel ★★★★

[09:30-10:00] Pack, check out and meet your guide for a final sightseeing program in Xi'an before flying to Shanghai.

[10:00-12:30] Walk on the Ancient City Wall; bicycle rental is optional and excluded from the tour price. Continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and, when available, see the fountain show at the North Plaza.

[12:30-16:30] Have the scheduled dumpling-banquet lunch. On the way to Xi'an airport, visit the Hanyang Mausoleum before continuing to your flight.

Fly to Shanghai. Meet your Shanghai guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Ancient City Wall

Day 12Shanghai

Jade Buddha Temple, the exterior of Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden; Shanghai Old Street, The Bund

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Recommended Hotel: Sunrise on the Bund Hotel ★★★★

[09:00-09:30] Meet your guide at the hotel and begin the Shanghai city tour.

[09:30-12:30] Visit Jade Buddha Temple and see its seated, jewel-covered Buddha, described as weighing 1,000 kg. Continue to the exterior of Oriental Pearl TV Tower and walk along the Riverside Promenade.

[12:30-13:30] Stop for a local lunch featuring dim sum and steamed buns.

[13:30-16:30] Explore Yuyuan Garden, then browse Shanghai Old Street and Nanjing Road for local souvenirs. Finish with a walk along the Bund, whose waterfront buildings reflect Shanghai's international trading history.

16:30-17:30] Return to the hotel. Ask your guide about the optional Acrobatic Show, including the popular ERA production.

The Bund

Day 13Shanghai

Transfer service to airport

Meals: Breakfast

Keep the day free until your airport transfer. If requested, a Maglev ride to Pudong Airport can be arranged; otherwise, travel directly to the airport by road.

Service Ends

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Tour Price (US$ per person)

Hotel Class	Group Size	Dec. ~ Feb.	Mar. ~ Nov.
Economy Hotel ★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2765	$ 2848
Economy Hotel ★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1790	$ 1874
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 2861	$ 2968
Comfortable Hotel ★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 1905	$ 2012
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	2 ~ 5 pax	$ 3222	$ 3370
Deluxe Hotel ★★★★★	6 ~ 9 pax	$ 2238	$ 2386

Price includes:

♦ Domestic flight or high-speed train as specified
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

Price excludes:

* International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services
* China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

Remarks:

※ Prices are valid from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right to adjust the price caused by exchange rate
※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise.
※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking
※ Special requirements should be advised to YUNSKY in advance.
※ YUNSKY reserves the right of final explanation for any change due to the reasons beyond our control.

Useful Information

Why Choose Us

Traveler Reviews Feedbacks & Photos
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5.0

PunkNelson

5.0

Great Hotel stay Very Nice Tour guides Convenient planned daily trips Average selection of restaurant for food though

Kiwimac53

5.0

We were looking for a tour in SW China while in the area for work and found this one. While we wouldn't normally get a private tour but surprisingly it was actually cheaper than most of the group tours in the area and was great value. While I would usually rather keep one guide for the whole tour, as you get to know each other and they get to know what you are interested in, we changed guides 5 times during this trip (fortunately we had the same guide in Kunming at the start and end of the tour which was a real bonus as Murphy, our Kunming based guide, was excellent.) In this case changing guides had the advantage of local knowledge at each site so compensated for the change. Of the 4 guides we had 3 excellent and 1 very good with each of them working hard to look after us and make sure we enjoyed our trip. Vicky, our Dali based guide was also extremely good making our time there a highlight. The tour gives you 2 days at each base ie travel in the morning, have the afternoon and the next day touring the area then drive to the next base. We chose the driving tour as we feel it gives you a better experience of the area and you get to see the locals in action. All the drivers we had were great – they went out of their way to look after us and were very safe, which is saying something for driving in China. While all of the guides were very fluent in English none of the drivers could speak English which was a slight disadvantage as you didn't have the guides with you when traveling between bases but the friendliness and helpfulness of the drivers more than made up for this.
The tour was very well organised and we knew what we were doing from the time we met our guide on arrival at the Kunming railway station to when we walked through security at the airport on our way out. The tour comes with 4,5 and 6 star accommodation choices and we went for the cheapest 4 star option. While the English at the hotels was limited the guides made sure we were checked in and out and took care of any issues (which were minimal). The 4 star option is largely “Chinese style” hotels ie designed for Chinese visitors with breakfast consisting of what many westeners would consider dinner style food but there was always eggs and toast for the less adventurous. The hotels were all clean and comfortable and generally very well located. The Hotel in Kunming (Jin Jang Inn) was a bonus as it seemed higher than 4 star and we stayed there both on our way in and out. As well as breakfast, lunch came with the tour which was enjoyable as the guides choose the restaurants so we got a variety. I got the feeling that most of the restaurants were owned by friends or family or there was some arrangement with the guide, but as you get to formally review each guide and the meals at the end of each stop they work hard to make sure you enjoy the meal and there was always an abundance of food. We tried a range of local cuisine and there was only one meal we didn't think was up to par. You get your own dinner which also suited us as there is invariably a range of restaurants or for the more adventurous there is the street vendors and you can choose what you want. The vehicles we were driven in were all very good- plenty of space and very comfortable.
Being a private tour, while there was a set itinerary, which was diverse and very interesting with something for most people, the guides could tweak it to suit individual interests eg more time at one site and less at another. It is easy to get a bit templed out but overall the itinerary was a good mic of nature and culture. I would thoroughly recommend the tour and the company and we will be looking to the company if/when we go back – Guilin is next on the list as the guides were very happy to discus what they thought we would and wouldn't enjoy based on working with us on this tour,

N2265ZIinfo

5.0

Excellent guides, flexible and knowledgeable travel agent. They speak good English. Our trip was very well organized. We are 100% happy and I can recommend Yun Sky Travel to everybody.

Wesley O

5.0

I contacted Yun Sky Travel for a 13 day China vacation (Beijing/Xian/Yangtze River cruise/Shanghai) and right from the start Bonnie provided me with great choices and package options. Throughout the entire planning and even during the trip Bonnie was there for us following up and making sure everything was perfect. Thank you Bonnie for making our China vacation unforgettable.

Johnf8958

5.0

From the minute I contacted Vicky at Yun Sky Travel to book our holiday, to the time we were taken to Pudong airport for our flight home, the experience was perfect.
My wife and I visited Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and all of our tour guides were fluent in English, very knowledgeable and very friendly.
Thank you Vicky and all at YUNSKY and I will definitely be in contact when I return to China.

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