13 Days China Highlights Tour with Yangtze River Cruise

The 13 days China tour will take you to visit the most popular tourist destinations including Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, and Shanghai and experience a leisure cruise on the mighty Yangtze River.
In the cities of Beijing, Xian, Guilin, and Shanghai, head to experience the ancient traditions, modern fashions, and beautiful landscapes. Also, you will have a four-hour cruise on the Li River reputed for its serenity and grace, and a three-day cruise on the Yangtze River famous for its grandeur and important role in Chinese history and culture. Both river cruises turn out to be the dreams for many international travelers who want to visit China for a long time.
TOUR CODEICT-C-HY13
PLACES VISITED Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Yangtze Cruise Cruise - Shanghai
DEPARTURE DATESDates are flexible and customizable for private departures.
We are specialized in private and luxury Indochina tour.
- Our tours are fully tailored to your budget and interests.
- We are local, based in Siem Reap, owns 7 branch offices in total in Indochina region, to ensure you authentic experiences.
- You are our No.1 priority and We promise heartfelt service.
- Enjoy 24/7 Trip Support.

Why you'll love this trip?
- Admire the magnificent Great Wall and visit Beijing's landmarks of the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace.
- Take the bullet train to Xi'an and discover the living soldiers of Terracotta and Horses.
- Cruise on Li River to enjoy the picturesque scenery.
- Enjoy a three-day leisure cruise on the Yangtze River, the mother river of China.
- Explore the city highlights including Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Museum, Nanjing Road, and the Bund.



Tour Map & Day by Day Itinerary
Beijing Arrival
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Flight: International flight on your own arrangment or on request
Welcome to Beijing, the Capital city of China. Your Beijing local tour guide is waiting for you at the airport, and then you'll be picked up and escorted to the hotel for check-in.
The rest of the day is for leisure to get you recovered from the jet lag. If you are too tired, you can ask your tour guide for some suggestions about walking around nearby your hotel.
Overnight in Beijing.
Beijing - the Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
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Meals: B
After breakfast, you will first visit the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, and then walk to the Forbidden City, the sitting home to 24 Chinese emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors used to pray for a good harvest.
Overnight in Beijing.
Beijing - the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Bird's Nest
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Meals: B
Today, you will head to the Mutianyu Great Wall, the most beautiful section of the Great Wall in Beijing, where you can hike or take a cable car up to the Wall.
In the afternoon, tour the Ming Tombs, a collection of mausoleums of the majorority of Ming dynasty's emperors. Then stop by a Pearl factory. On the way back to the hotel, you can take some photos of the Olympic sites - the Bird' Nest and the Water Cube.
Overnight in Beijing.
Beijing to Xian by High-Speed Rail
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Meals: B
Today, you will first visit the Summer Palace, the resort for the Emperors. After lunch, drive to the train station for a high-speed rail to Xian, taking around 5 hours.
After your arrival in Xian, the ancient capital of China, you will be picked up by the local tour guide and escorted to your hotel. The rest of the day is for leisure on your own.
Overnight in Xi'an.
Xian - Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Bell Tower
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Meals: B
Today, your first stop is the incredible Terracotta Warriors, about 35 kilometers east of Xian, one of the largest and stunning archaeological finds of the 20th century.
In the afternoon, tour the Ancient City Wall, the best-kept city wall in the world. You can cycle or stroll on the city wall and feel its magnificence. At night, when the lights are lit on, visit the beautiful Bell Tower and Drum Tower, also the famous landmarks of Xian.
Optional:
If you want, we can arrange the famous Tang Dynasty Show and Dumpling Dinner for you. You can ask your tour guide to add as well.
Overnight in Xi'an.
Xian to Guilin - the Great Mosque, Muslim Street
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Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement
Meals: B
In the morning, visit the Great Mosque and then head to the local Muslim Street to seek for delicious street food.
After that, you will transfer to the airport and take a flight to Guilin. Upon arrival, you will be picked up by your local tour guide and escorted to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the today is your leisure time.
Overnight in Guilin.
Guilin - Li River Cruise, Bike to Explore Yangshuo
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Meals: B
The highlight today is Li River Cruise. The cruise starts from the Zhujiajiao Pier, and it is over 83 kilometers long and usually takes 4 hours. En route, you will be rewarded with breathtaking scenery and a taste of the life far away from the concrete metropolis.
In the early afternoon, you will reach to the Yangshuo town, where you can ride a bike to explore the small town. After that, transfer to your hotel in Yangshuo.
Overnight in Yangshuo town.
Guilin to Chongqing - Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave
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Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement
Meals: B
After breakfast, drive back to Guilin downtown to enjoy the city highlights. First head to Elephant Trunk Hill, the landmark of Guilin, and then explore Reed Flute Cave. The cave got its name from the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into flutes.
In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and take a flight to Chongqing, the port of the Yangtze River Cruise.
Upon arrival, you will be escorted to a Yangtze River Ship that will depart Chongqing at 21:00. And your memorable cruise tour begins here.
Overnight on the cruise.
Yangtze River Cruise - Fengdu Ghost City / Shibaozhai
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Meals: B / L / D
In the morning, enjoy your leisure time on the cruise. You may start your day with a Tai Chi session on the Sun Deck, take a swim in the pool, or simply relax and enjoy the scenery along the river.
After lunch, disembark and visit the Fengdu Ghost City or Shibaozhai and it depends on which ship company you have chosen.
In the evening, the Captain will host a welcome party, followed by dinner and a special performance by the ship's crew. It's a great opportunity to make friends, so dress up and enjoy it.
Overnight on the cruise.
Yangtze River Cruise - the Three Gorges, Fengdu Ghost City / Shibaozhai
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Meals: B / L / D
After breakfast, relax and enjoy the scenery on the balcony of your room or the sun deck. At around 10:30 am, the ship sails downstream through the first and second of the three gorges - Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and Wu, known for its quiet beauty and forest-covered mountains.
After lunch, disembark for a short trip to the Shennong Stream or Lesser Three Gorges (depends on which ship company you have chosen), where you will experience the real Sanxia local lifestyle and the mighty scenery.
This evening, join in a special Chinese-style farewell banquet.
Overnight on the cruise.
Yichang to Shanghai - the Three Gorges Site
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Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement
Meals: B
After breakfast, disembark and say goodbye to the crew on the ship. You then will be escorted to the Three Gorges Site, the largest dam in the world.
After a lunch break in Yichang, drive to the airport and take a flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in. And the rest of the day is for leisure on your own.
Overnight in Shanghai.
Shanghai - the Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Huangpu River Cruise
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Meals: B
After breakfast, start the city trip after a short rest. Your first stop is the Jade Buddha Temple, a peaceful temple in the bustling modern city. Then head to the Shanghai Museum, one of China's best museums.
After a local flavor lunch, stroll the historic riverfront - the Bund, and walk around the famous and popular pedestrian shopping street - Nanjing Road. And your tour today ends by taking a Huangpu River Cruise to see the city from a different angle.
Overnight in Shanghai.
Shanghai Departure (B)
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Flight: International flight on your own arrangement
Meals: B
Today you will visit the People's Square where you can get a lively picture of Shanghai's culture and history before your tour guide picks you up to the airport. Tour ends and looking forward to seeing you again!
End of service.
Note: If you’re planning to explore the Indochina region, like Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, please never hesitate to contact us, we’re tour experts for all of these destinations.
Service Inclusions & Exclusions
Service Inclusions:
- Flight tickets with airport tax as listed in above itinerary.
- Entrance fee and sightseeing as listed in the itinerary.
- Private English speaking tour guide service.
- Private van for land transportation with cold drinking water and soft drink provided in the car.
- Meals as listed in the itinerary (B for breakfast, L for lunch and D for dinner.
Service Exclusions:
- International air tickets.
- Visa Handling fee, visa stamp fee.
- Meals do not listed in itinerary.
- Insurance, gratuities and personal expenses.
- Tipping for guide, driver and hotel bell boys, etc.
- Surcharge for public holidays (if any).
- Services not stated in the itinerary.
What You Can Expect When You Travel with Us
We help you with everything from travel planning, local guides, and comfy rides to tasty food and nice places to stay. You can relax and enjoy your trip with us.

Our dedicated 7/24 1 to 1 consultant service is available around the clock, providing you with expert guidance and support tailored to your specific needs and questions.

Enjoy the comfort and convenience of our private van service with skilled drivers. Relax as we take you to the destination safely and hassle-free.

Discover the best of your destination with our expert local tour guide. They'll show you the hidden gems and share fascinating insights to make your trip unforgettable.

Experience the heart of our community with local special activities. Join us for unique adventures and cultural experiences that will leave you with cherished memories.

Indulge in the finest accommodation for a luxurious stay. Our high-quality rooms offer comfort, style, and relaxation, ensuring a memorable and restful experience during your stay.

Let us recommend delightful local flavor meals. Experience the authentic tastes of our region with our handpicked dishes that showcase the best of our local cuisine.
What Our Customers Saying...

My husband and I booked a fabulous 63-day tour through Vietnam and Laos with Indochina Tours. Our unbelievable travel assistants were Elena Dean and Kea. These two people made what would have been a standard tour into a FABULOUS tour.
They took the time to work with us on what we wanted, changed the itinerary to suit us, made all the arrangements and were able to put together fabulous guides and transportation that covered 2 months of travel. I would absolutely recommend Indochina Tour to others who are looking for a company that really listened to our requests.
This tour included temples, elephant sanctuaries, The Gibbon Experience, boat rides, creative art classes, food exploration, markets, beaches, forests, hiking, ziplining, in-country flights, 19 different hotels, planting rice experience, overnight luxury train accommodations, UNESCO world heritage sites, markets, and walking tours. Without a doubt, this company knows tours!


Great trip plan by Indochina Tour and the hotels are great as well as the guides. Would recommended to any couple for this trip.


We booked a custom 14 days tour across Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Amara and Helen made the booking experience so seemless and did a great job at crafting our tour. Amazing hotel stays and tours. The perfect combination of sightseeing and relaxing.
Our guides were all fantastic, always ready for us, really knowledgeable and very kind. I would recommend this tour operator. The only hiccup was a scheduling issue with our Halong Bay cruise, which we weren’t aware of until we landed from a 22 hour travel journey .
Although we had to adjust, Helen was very attentive and arranged some complimentary dinner and message for the miscommunication. It did not take away from the experience we had and would use Indochina again.


Ivy and Helen created a fantastic trip for me and my family to Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. We can't say enough about how helpful and supportive they were all the way through. Our guides were also wonderful, and we would definitely recommend and use Indochina again.
We weren't sure if we would go through a company to plan our trip, but it made everything so smooth that I am so happy we did! We also looked into other tour companies, but we are so glad we went with Indochina because I can't imagine a better experience. Thank you to Helen, Ivy, and our excellent guides and drivers!


My partner and I had an absolutely amazing time on our tour planned with Indochina tour. Ivy and Kea took into account all of our preferences when planning our tour, which made it such a special experience.
In all of the different countries and cities that we visited, we always had a driver and tour guide ready to greet us and take us around to the different attractions. This simplified the experience for us as we did not have to worry about planning and logistics, but instead could just enjoy everything. Our guides and drivers were also so friendly and knowledgeable!
We have already been recommending this tour company to our friends and family as it truly was an incredible experience working with them!


We had Indochina customise a 21 day individual tour for us and I highly recommend it.
A family member actually said to me last night ‘how did you even go find out about some of those places?’ and I simply replied ‘our tour operator’.
We spent 21 days touring Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Our guides were professional, timely, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and just awesome! Hotels were spot on. Great locations, awesome facilities, attentive staff and some were full of character (in the best way). I usually spent so much time researching hotels and am very particular - these were better than I could have chosen.
Drivers were exceptional. Safe and always pressing a lovely cold water bottle into your hands.
A highlight of our trip was a visit to Free The Bears in Luang Prabang Laos. I have travelled quite a lot, and I feel this was one of my favourite ever travel experiences. This was added by our travel consultant Sreypov after I asked for some other experience to be excluded. However, animal ethics and welfare are important to me, so when I saw ‘bear sanctuary’ added I asked which one - and when Sreypov said Free The Bears I was very excited as they are a very ethical organisation. When I said this, Sreypov added Apopo - the mine detection rats - another bucket list for me! So our tour became very much about our interests. I actually wish I’d told Sreypov more about the things we liked to do and customised a bit more - as those customisations were the highlights!
I have so many friends asking me who organised my trip as they were following our adventures on Facebook and said our trip seemed one of the best they had seen.
Sreypov And Kea were both awesome to work with - so responsive to my emails - and there were a few!
They organised everything for us. Now, there are cheaper deals out there - but know this - this was a trip of a lifetime and there were NO HIDDEN EXTRAS. We barely spent a cent.
The lunches that were included were HUGE. A little too much food at times and at good quality restaurants and we got to try a nice variety of local cuisine. We did laugh and say our biggest expense was a cold alcoholic beverage at the end of the day! It was about the only thing not included (though two guides even bought us a surprise iced coconut coffee which was lovely!).
Whilst all internal flights were included (and oh wow, the guides meet you at arrivals, transport you to hotel and even check you in… but then they don’t drop you back at airport, they come in, check you in, and escort you all the way, it’s so lovely!) we did organise our own flights to Vietnam from Australia. And guess what did go wrong - those flights! However, when I was freaking out and worried, I reached out to Kea and she helped me through contacting our airline and fixing issue - even though it wasn’t her responsibility. Very grateful.
So yes, we had the trip of a lifetime and I highly recommend this company. We were very impressed with their care of us and professionalism.
We ran into some friends from home during our trip, they were doing a small group trip with another company and I feel we were having a much better time. It might cost more to have individual trip but that’s the difference between a holiday and a trip of a lifetime.
My tip - do tell them what you enjoy and have them customise the trip for you.


My sister and I travel together yearly. We carefully select a company we believe will create a tour that satisfies our needs by reading our texts carefully and asks searching questions to understand our interests and meet our needs.
In searching for a company we quickly realised that this company has The abilities and professional approach to bring our trip together with pleasure.


Indochina yours from Day 1 of contacting them was responsive, truly speaking I don't know when the staff of Indochina tours actually takes hours of a day off.
Kim arranged the itinerary first for us and then passed it over to Helen. Helen has an amazing team looking into each details a family visiting the Indochina belt for the first time would require/need to know.
She was so meticulous in detailing that she would specify the dress codes expected on each day of the tour as we were visiting themes and stupas.
The hotels and the food arranged by Indochina was great, all of their guides were knowledgeable and friendly.
I would surely recommend Indochina tours to all, it's a totally different way to visit the Indochina belt and see it through the eyes of the locals.

Our 1:1 travel consultant will reply you with a detailed quotation within 0.5-23.5 hours.
You are inquiring on:
13 Days China Highlights Tour with Yangtze River Cruise
- Tour Code:ICT-C-HY13
- Length: 13 Days
- Route: Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Yangtze Cruise Cruise - Shanghai
- Price: USD
- Departure Date:
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