China highlights: Beijing, Xi'an, Lijiang, Guilin & Shanghai
I met this fisherman in Yangshuo on our travels
After visiting China for the first time, I immediately wondered why I hadn’t explored this huge country before! I appreciate that it can feel like one of those destinations that can feel too overwhelming to plan, but as there is no chance you can cover all of China in one trip, I can help you pick the highlights that would mean the most to you.
After putting together multiple China trips for families based in Singapore, I have prepared some of the highlights that would be great for someone looking to see the highlights. Based on your time available, I would recommend picking 3 or 4 locations to give an overall flavour of China, mixing both large city (such as Beijing) with history (Xi’an), and countryside (Guilin).
One of the most important benefits of booking a trip like this with me is the local insight. I arrange local guides and drivers who will ensure your trip goes beyond basic tourist hot spots, so you experience the best of China, from local culinary experiences, to hidden sights. You choose your level of hotel, from ultra luxury to local boutique style.
In this article, the route runs Beijing → Xi'an → Lijiang → Guilin → Shanghai. Alternatively, you could finish in Hong Kong via high speed train. It works beautifully as a 2 week trip, or take just a couple of stops if time is more limited. Every trip that I arrange is bespoke, so this is just one itinerary from many options.
Beijing : Where History Meets Real City Life
Most people arrive in Beijing expecting the landmarks and get them. What surprises them is everything in between, with the hutongs, the food, the scale of the place, and how modern it feels alongside the ancient.
Start your trip with a visit to the Forbidden City, where our guide bring the stories to life, because without context it's an enormous collection of courtyards. In the afternoon, explore the hutongs and visit local characters to learn about their culture. Finish the evening with Peking duck at one of the old-school kaoya restaurants, avoiding the tourist traps.
No trip to China is complete without visiting the Great Wall. We take our clients to beautifully restored sections of the Ming-era wall, with proper watchtowers, and a fraction of the crowds. It may be further to drive, but we highly recommend taking a full day to escape the crowds.
If you have time for a third day, then explore the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Your local guide will tell extraordinary stories of the Empress Dowager Cixi, who was a former concubine who became the most powerful person in China.
Did you know……….
The Great Wall of China is not a continuous wall but a series of walls built across different dynasties over approximately 2,000 years
Xi'an : More Than the Terracotta Warriors
The high speed train from Beijing to Xi'an takes around four and a half hours and is a genuinely enjoyable journey. Xi'an is one of China's oldest cities, the historic starting point of the Silk Road, and endlessly underrated.
Yes, you will see the Terracotta Warriors, and they are as extraordinary as advertised. The scale of what Emperor Qin Shi Huang commissioned is difficult to comprehend until you're standing in front of it. With our local and knowledgeable guides; the history and archaeology here deserve more than a self-guided wander.
But Xi'an's other highlight is its Muslim Quarter, home to a community that has been here for 1,300 years. The Great Mosque is one of the most beautiful I've encountered anywhere, blending Chinese and Islamic architecture in a way that feels completely unique.
The surrounding streets are a food market of the best kind; chaotic, delicious, and unlike anything you'll find in Beijing. Spend an evening here eating your way through it. Alternatively, I can arrange bike tours, cooking classes, and tours around local markets.
Terracotta warriors
Lijiang : Where You Slow Down
The flight from Xi'an to Lijiang takes around two and a half hours and lands you somewhere that feels completely different. Lijiang sits in Yunnan province at altitude, surrounded by mountains, and its old town is UNESCO-listed, with canals, wooden bridges, traditional Naxi architecture. It's the kind of place that rewards slow travel.
The must-do here is Tiger Leaping Gorge, a 90-minute drive from Lijiang. Tucked between Yulong Snow Mountain and Haba Mountain, it is one of the deepest gorges in the world and the scenery is extraordinary. I can arrange either a multi-day hike in the area for those feeling adventurous, or a drive to the amazing outlooks (and anything inbetween).
The other highlight is Baisha Village, just north of Lijiang. Your local guide will take you to a Naxi village which sees far fewer visitors than the old town and feels unchanged by tourism. You will see wares sold from wooden carts, cows on the road, stone and wood architecture at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It's the kind of place that reminds you why you came.
Lijiang old town
Guilin & Yangshuo : The Landscape That Stops You
The karst landscape of Guilin is what most people picture when they think of China with the dramatic limestone peaks rising from flat plains. We recommend staying in Yangshuo rather than Guilin city, so that you are in the middle of the countryside rather than a regional capital. We arrange local tours, from mornings at the local market, to afternoon bamboo rafting on the Yulong River, and relaxed caligraphy lessons with local masters. It's unhurried, beautiful, and completely different from anything else on this itinerary.
The unmissable evening experience is Impression Liusanjie. This enormous outdoor performance of ethnic song and dance staged in a natural amphitheatre with the karst mountains as the backdrop. It was choreographed by Zhang Yimou, who also directed the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. It runs for two hours and is unlike any show I've seen anywhere in the world
Karst mountains
Shanghai : The Perfect Final Chapter
After the ancient cities and mountain landscapes of inland China, Shanghai lands like a different country entirely. It's the most international city in China, and arriving here at the end of the trip gives the itinerary a satisfying contrast. I would say that two nights is enough to get a feel for the city.
The city divides neatly into old and new. The Bund is the obvious starting point where the waterfront promenade is lined with colonial-era buildings facing the futuristic Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River. Walk it in the evening when both sides are lit up. It's one of the great city views in Asia.
We can arrange a walking or bike tour for those feeling more active, around the French Concession. Here you can enjoy the tree-lined streets, art deco architecture, independent coffee shops, excellent restaurants, and boutiques that feel a world away from the tourist trail. One of the highlights was learning to ballroom dance with locals in Fuxing Park! Even if joining in is not your thing, then just watching all the different dance and music groups enjoying this public park is a really special experience.
Our local guides will also show you the best places for Xiaolongbao, the soup dumplings Shanghai is famous for. In the evening, the rooftop bars in the Former French Concession and along the Bund are genuinely world-class.
Two nights works well as a standalone addition, flying home from Shanghai Pudong directly to Singapore and the flight is around five and a half hours.
Shanghai skyline
Practical Notes
Best time to go from Singapore: September to November is ideal — cooler than summer, past the peak rainy season. Avoid Golden Week (first week of October) when domestic tourism peaks and crowds at major sites are significant. However, Easter is also an interesting time as fewer crowds (although it can be wetter).
How long: This itinerary covers 5 major stops across China. This route can be done in 10-14 days. If time is limited, I can suggest a shorter version.
Getting around: Fly or take high speed train between cities. Both options are reliable and I arrange all of the booking, including securing preferred seating arrangements. At each location, private cars with your local guide handle everything. You don't need to navigate public transport independently.
Guides: The quality of your local guide in each city makes an enormous difference to this trip as generic tour guides recite facts. I work with highly trained, english speaking guides who show you how people actually live, eat, and think. This is the single most important variable in a China trip.
Planning a trip to China? I can put together a version of this itinerary tailored to your family, travel style and timing. Get in touch through the contact me section, and we can arrange an initial call to see how I can assist you.