China in Watercolor

Your private arrival transfer brings you to your selected hotel. Keep the rest of the day flexible for rest, a short orientation walk, and an easy dinner after your flight.

Explore the Forbidden City with a private guide, tracing the relationship between its ceremonial halls and intimate courtyards. Allow time for a quiet lunch before a neighborhood walk.

Travel to Mutianyu or Jinshanling according to your preferred walking distance. Cable-car options, steps, and terrain are discussed in advance; return to the city for an unhurried evening.

Travel onward to Xi’an by the rail, flight, or private transfer specified in your proposal. Settle into your next stay and enjoy a light introduction rather than a full sightseeing schedule.

Visit the Terracotta Army with a guide who gives context to the excavation and its imperial setting. Return to Xi’an for a relaxed evening and a regional dinner.

Travel onward to Guilin & Yangshuo by the rail, flight, or private transfer specified in your proposal. Settle into your next stay and enjoy a light introduction rather than a full sightseeing schedule.

Travel through the Li River landscape, with boat arrangements selected around your comfort and schedule. Settle into Yangshuo for an evening beneath the limestone peaks.

Explore villages and fields beside the Yulong River. Choose gentle walking or a guided bicycle outing, with time for a long lunch and a restful afternoon.

Build a day around a tea visit and a cooking session, or simply enjoy your retreat. We choose the format and level of activity around your interests.

Travel onward to Shanghai by the rail, flight, or private transfer specified in your proposal. Settle into your next stay and enjoy a light introduction rather than a full sightseeing schedule.

Walk the Bund, comparing the historic waterfront with Pudong’s contemporary skyline. Continue into leafy streets for architecture, galleries, and a leisurely lunch.

Enjoy a final morning in Shanghai, as your departure time allows. Your transfer is coordinated with your flight or rail reservation. Extend the stay if you would like more time.