Pair Shanghai’s waterfront and historic neighbourhoods with the mountain landscapes of Zhangjiajie and Guilin. Explore Wulingyuan’s sandstone pillars, Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain before continuing by rail to the Longji Rice Terraces and Zhuang villages. Cruise the Li River to Yangshuo, then spend time around West Street and the Yulong River countryside, with cycling and bamboo rafting on the plan. This nine-day journey moves from a major coastal city into southern China’s peaks, rivers and cultivated hillsides.
What makes this route special
See Shanghai from the Oriental Pearl Tower and visit Yuyuan Garden and the Jade Buddha Temple.
Fly from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie on the listed FM9343 service.
Explore Wulingyuan, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Golden Whip Stream and Ten-Mile Gallery.
Visit Longji Rice Terraces and a Zhuang village.
Take a Li River cruise from Guilin toward Yangshuo; one lunch is listed on board.
Experience West Street, Impression Liu Sanjie, Yulong River bamboo rafting and Moon Hill.
Your day-by-day itinerary
Arrive in Shanghai
Meet your driver at Shanghai airport and transfer to Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping. The rest of the day is free for check-in and recovery after your journey. No guided sightseeing is planned on arrival day. Two nights with breakfast are allocated to the Shanghai stay, so you can settle in before visiting the city and flying to Zhangjiajie. Share your arrival flight details when enquiring so the driver can meet you at the right terminal or pickup point.
- Transport
- Driver pickup and private transfer to the hotel.
- Guide
- Driver pickup only.
- Accommodation
- Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping; two nights with breakfast.
Shanghai's Riverfront and Skyline
Visit the Oriental Pearl Tower’s main observation deck and 360-degree glass platform, then explore the Shanghai History Museum. Later, stroll along the Bund and Nanjing Road, where historic riverfront buildings face the city’s modern towers. This day focuses on Shanghai’s skyline and commercial waterfront, leaving Yuyuan Garden, the Former French Concession and Jade Buddha Temple for tomorrow. Private city transport and an English-speaking guide are arranged for the Shanghai sightseeing segment. Return to the hotel for the night.
- Transport
- Private city transport.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation
- Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping; second night with breakfast.
Shanghai Heritage and Flight to Zhangjiajie
Spend the morning at Yuyuan Garden, the Former French Concession and Jade Buddha Temple. The garden’s pavilions and decorative walls offer a quiet contrast to the city streets, while Xintiandi’s stone-gate lanes reflect Shanghai’s blend of Chinese and Western influences. After sightseeing, transfer to the airport for flight FM9343 to Zhangjiajie, scheduled 17:20–19:45. A driver pickup and overnight in Zhangjiajie are planned. The Pullman hotel is allocated for two nights; its exact property and location will be confirmed with your quote.
- Transport
- Private city and airport transfers; flight FM9343, 17:20–19:45.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide in Shanghai; driver pickup in Zhangjiajie.
- Accommodation
- Pullman Hotel; two nights with breakfast. The property and city will be confirmed with your quote.
Wulingyuan and the Sandstone Peaks
Spend the day in Wulingyuan Scenic Area, taking the Bailong Elevator to Yuanjiajie and continuing to Tianzi Mountain. The route then descends toward Golden Whip Stream and the Ten-Mile Gallery, where a small train is planned. Sandstone pillars, forested slopes and deep valleys create the dramatic scenery associated with Zhangjiajie. There is a substantial amount of walking between viewpoints, and queues or weather can affect the order of visits. Return to the Zhangjiajie hotel for the second night.
- Transport
- Private local transport; Bailong Elevator and Ten-Mile Gallery small train are planned.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation
- Pullman Hotel; second night. The property and city will be confirmed with your quote.
High-Speed Rail to Guilin
Leave early for Zhangjiajie station and take the high-speed train to Guilin, scheduled 07:17–14:30. A driver meets you at Guilin station with a name board and transfers you to Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel for the first of two nights with breakfast. The long rail journey takes up most of the day, with no sightseeing scheduled after arrival. Keep travel documents and any medication in your hand luggage, and allow time for station procedures before boarding.
- Transport
- Private transfer to Zhangjiajie station; high-speed train 07:17–14:30; driver pickup at Guilin station.
- Guide
- Driver transfer in Zhangjiajie; English-speaking guide meets you in Guilin.
- Accommodation
- Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel; first night of two with breakfast.
Longji Rice Terraces and Zhuang Village
Travel into the Longji Rice Terraces and visit a Zhuang village, Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers. Terraced fields wrap around the hillsides, changing from reflective water to green growth or harvest colors through the year. The village visit offers a glimpse of how local communities have shaped and worked this mountain landscape over generations. Paths can be steep and uneven, so take a comfortable pace. Return to Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel for the second night.
- Transport
- Private transport from Guilin to Longji and back.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation
- Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel; second night of two with breakfast.
Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
Travel from Guilin to Yangshuo and cruise a scenic section of the Li River by three-star boat. Karst peaks rise above the water, with landmarks such as Nine-Horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Reflection along the route. One lunch is planned with the cruise. After arriving in Yangshuo, visit West Street and attend the evening performance Impression Liu Sanjie, staged against the river and surrounding mountains. Check in at Yangshuo Junhe Lijing Resort Hotel for the first of two nights with breakfast.
- Transport
- Private local transport; Li River cruise by boat.
- Guide
- English-speaking guide.
- Accommodation
- Yangshuo Junhe Lijing Resort Hotel; first night of two with breakfast.
Yulong River Countryside and Moon Hill
Explore the countryside beside the Yulong River by bicycle, passing villages, fields and karst peaks. Later, take a bamboo raft along the river and visit Moon Hill before returning to Yangshuo for the evening. The cycling route and rafting offer a closer view of rural scenery, but distances and boarding conditions should be checked if you have mobility concerns. Bicycle rental, transport and the raft are part of the planned day. Stay at Yangshuo Junhe Lijing Resort Hotel for the second night.
- Transport
- Transport and bicycle rental are planned; Yulong River bamboo rafting is planned.
- Guide
- Guide arrangement for this countryside day will be confirmed.
- Accommodation
- Yangshuo Junhe Lijing Resort Hotel; second night of two with breakfast.
Return to Guilin and Departure Transfer
Travel by private car from Yangshuo back to Guilin, then transfer to the airport with a driver. No sightseeing or guide service is planned today. Pickup time depends on your departure flight, so share the flight details when confirming the quote. The journey ends in Guilin after the mountain, river and countryside visits. If your flight is early, ask whether breakfast can be arranged before departure and allow enough time for the road transfer.
- Transport
- Private car to Guilin and driver airport transfer.
- Guide
- Driver airport transfer only.
- Accommodation
- No overnight accommodation; departure day.
What your proposal covers
- Private group transport and the local and station transfers planned for this journey.
- Eight breakfasts and one lunch with the Li River cruise.
- Entrance fees for the planned attractions.
- English-speaking guiding on seven days; airport arrival and departure transfers are driver-only.
- Eight nights in twin-share rooms at Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhenping, Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel, Yangshuo Junhe Lijing Resort Hotel and a two-night Pullman stay. The Pullman property will be confirmed with your quote.
- Lunches other than the one listed with the cruise, and dinners.
- International flights.
- Personal expenses.
Payment & cancellation
| Payment due | Share of trip price |
|---|---|
| On trip confirmation | 30% deposit |
| One month before the trip | 70% balance |
| Time before arrival | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|
| More than 45 days | Only costs incurred for flights, cruises and other exceptional services. |
| 45–30 days | 25% |
| 29–16 days | 50% |
| 15–7 days | 80% |
| Less than 7 days | 100% |
| Percentage fees are based on the total trip price. | |
Questions and answers
VISAS
For the latest information on visa procedures, processing times and requirements, please kindly refer to website https://consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/
INSURANCE
We will arrange essential insurance coverage for your trip to Mainland China. Meanwhile, we strongly recommend you purchase separate comprehensive travel insurance to cover trip cancellation, medical expenses, luggage loss, repatriation and other associated additional costs. As a minimum requirement, the insurance policy must include medical coverage, which including medical evacuation and repatriation. For this part, you are free to select your preferred insurance provider.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
If you are traveling during a Chinese public holiday, please note that while tourist attractions remain open, they may be crowded with domestic visitors. Festivities often span several days, during which some businesses may close, and coach, air, and train services could be impacted. The major Golden Week holidays occur annually around 1 to 5 May and 1 to 7 October.
ACCOMMODATION
Your accommodation is chosen for its convenience, comfort, or character. Hotels are generally of a four-star standard in major cities. Please note, there is no international classification system, so facilities and quality may differ from those in your home country.
LUGGAGE
Each traveller is permitted a maximum of two pieces of luggage: one suitcase with a maximum weight of 20kg and one piece of hand luggage with a maximum weight of 5kg. This requirement applies to domestic trains and flights. We recommend packing only what you can carry independently, as you will be responsible for handling your luggage on and off trains or air-checked. Please note: If your luggage exceed the limits, kindly inform your travel designer in advance, and we will arrange a suitable vehicle for you.
TRAVEL MONEY IN CHINA
We recommend having access to multiple sources of money while traveling. A combination of payment methods, including mobile payment apps, cash, and cards, will offer the most security and flexibility. Mobile payment apps like WeChat and Alipay are often more widely accepted than international cards or cash in China. You will need an internet connection when in China to use the apps.
