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Signature: China from the Great Wall to Shangri-La

Traverse the full breadth of China, from the Great Wall and the Gobi Desert to the bamboo forests of Sichuan and the karst peaks of the south. Guided by experts, unlock the secrets of the Terracotta Warriors, go behind the scenes of panda conservation, and cruise the Li River at sunset on an expedition that spans millennia.

19 DaysBeijing to Shanghai
Valid on May 5 2026Trip Code: ACPSNS
From $12999 USDIncluding taxes and fees

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: National Geographic Signature

Exceptional exploration led by renowned experts, offering rare, private access to the world’s most storied sites — all defined by an unparalleled level of service and comfort.

Service Level: Luxury

Five-star hospitality and meticulously curated inclusions, featuring iconic properties, fine dining, and private door-to-door service.

Physical Grading: 3 - Average

Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.

Merchandising: New Trips

Trip Type: Small Group

Group trips average 12 travellers per departure, depending on the adventure. The maximum is usually no more than 16, but some can be smaller or bigger, depending on the trip. Check individual trips for details.

Age requirements: 12+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Check Your Visa Requirements

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

Signature: China from the Great Wall to Shangri-La - Itinerary

Trip Start: BeijingTrip End: Shanghai

DAY 1

Beijing

Welcome to China. Your expedition begins as you touch down in Beijing, the heart of the Middle Kingdom. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers. A presentation from the National Geographic Expedition Expert sets the stage for the expedition, weaving together the threads of imperial history you are about to explore, followed by a delicious welcome dinner.

Arrival Transfer:
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group:
Upon arrival, your Expedition Leader is on hand at the hotel to assist with check-in, provide guidance, and answer questions. In the evening, enjoy an a welcome reception with wine, beer, and soft drinks, paired with an expert-led “Introduction to China” presentation and followed by a welcome dinner.

Signature: China from the Great Wall to Shangri-La - Itinerary

Trip Start: BeijingTrip End: Shanghai
DAY 1
Beijing

DAY 1

Beijing

Welcome to China. Your expedition begins as you touch down in Beijing, the heart of the Middle Kingdom. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers. A presentation from the National Geographic Expedition Expert sets the stage for the expedition, weaving together the threads of imperial history you are about to explore, followed by a delicious welcome dinner.

Arrival Transfer:
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group:
Upon arrival, your Expedition Leader is on hand at the hotel to assist with check-in, provide guidance, and answer questions. In the evening, enjoy an a welcome reception with wine, beer, and soft drinks, paired with an expert-led “Introduction to China” presentation and followed by a welcome dinner.

DAY 2
Beijing
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DAY 3
Beijing/Jinshanling
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DAY 4
Jinshanling/Dunhuang
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DAY 5
Dunhuang
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DAY 6
Dunhuang
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DAY 7
Dunhuang/Xi'an
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DAY 8
Xi'an
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DAY 9
Xi’an/Chengdu
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DAY 10
Chengdu
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DAY 11
Chengdu
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DAY 12
Chengdu/Lijiang
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DAY 13
Lijiang
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DAY 14
Lijiang
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DAY 15
Lijiang/Yangshuo
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DAY 16
Yangshuo
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DAY 17
Yangshuo/Shanghai
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DAY 18
Shanghai
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DAY 19
Shanghai
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What’s Included

  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Qixianfeng Tea Plantation, Yangshuo
  • Your G for Good Moment: Jia Community Restaurant, Yangshuo
  • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Beijing
  • Signature Moment: Great Wall of China Talk with an Expert, Jinshanling
  • Your Foodie Moment: Sunset Beijing Duck Dinner on the Great Wall, Jinshanling
  • Your Foodie Moment: The Tang Dynasty Cultural Show with Dumpling Dinner, Xi'an
  • Signature Moment: Institute of Archeology Visit, Xi'an
  • Signature Moment: Dujiangyan Panda Base Visit, Dujiangyan Shi
  • Your Foodie Moment: Chengdu Hot Pot Dinner, Chengdu
  • Your Foodie Moment: Sichuan Spice Market & Cooking Class, Chengdu
  • Your Foodie Moment: Visit and Long Table Dinner at Luna Village, Luna
  • Your Local Living Moment: Tibetan Family Visit, Shangri-La
  • Arrival and departure transfer
  • Forbidden City Visit
  • Temple of Heaven Visit
  • Tiananmen Square Visit
  • Great Wall of China Jinshanling Section
  • Mogao Grottoes Visit
  • Free Time in Dunhuang
  • Sunset at Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring
  • Yadan National Geologic Park Visit
  • Yumen Pass and Ruins of the Han Great Wall Visit
  • Xi’an’s West Gate Visit
  • Terracotta Warriors Visit
  • Muslim Quarter Visit
  • The Great Mosque Visit
  • Giant Panda Breeding Center Visit
  • Sample Tea at a local Tea House
  • Yulong Snow Mountain and Impression Lijiang Show
  • Baisha Village Visit
  • Songzanlin Monastery
  • Old Town Shangri-La
  • Sunset Li River Cruise
  • Fuli Village Visit
  • Shanghai Circus World Acrobatics Show
  • Shanghai French Concession
  • Yuyuan Garden
  • Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expedition Expert throughout
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Accommodations
  • Hotels (18 nights)
Meals
  • 18 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 15 dinners
Transportation
  • Private Vehicle, Walking, Plane, Bullet Train, Boat, Ferry.
Staff & experts
  • National Geographic Expedition Leader and National Geographic Expedition Expert

Signature: China from the Great Wall to Shangri-La Departure Dates

All Years

StartEndingAvailabilityPrices from
Sat, Mar 13 2027Wed, Mar 31 2027Open (22)$13,599 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, Apr 03 2027Wed, Apr 21 2027Open (20)$12,999 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, Apr 10 2027Wed, Apr 28 2027Open (22)$12,999 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, May 08 2027Wed, May 26 2027Open (22)$12,999 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, May 22 2027Wed, Jun 09 2027Open (22)$13,599 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, Jun 05 2027Wed, Jun 23 2027Open (22)$13,599 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, Sep 04 2027Wed, Sep 22 2027Open (22)$13,599 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, Sep 11 2027Wed, Sep 29 2027Open (22)$13,599 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, Oct 09 2027Wed, Oct 27 2027Open (22)$13,599 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)
Sat, Oct 16 2027Wed, Nov 03 2027Open (22)$13,599 USD
(price includes taxes and fees)

USEFUL INFO

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Qixianfeng Tea Plantation, Yangshuo
Your G for Good Moment: Jia Community Restaurant, Yangshuo
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group, Beijing
Signature Moment: Great Wall of China Talk with an Expert, Jinshanling
Your Foodie Moment: Sunset Beijing Duck Dinner on the Great Wall, Jinshanling
Your Foodie Moment: The Tang Dynasty Cultural Show with Dumpling Dinner, Xi'an
Signature Moment: Institute of Archeology Visit, Xi'an
Signature Moment: Dujiangyan Panda Base Visit, Dujiangyan Shi
Your Foodie Moment: Chengdu Hot Pot Dinner, Chengdu
Your Foodie Moment: Sichuan Spice Market & Cooking Class, Chengdu
Your Foodie Moment: Visit and Long Table Dinner at Luna Village, Luna
Your Local Living Moment: Tibetan Family Visit, Shangri-La. Arrival and departure transfer. Forbidden City Visit. Temple of Heaven Visit. Tiananmen Square Visit. Great Wall of China Jinshanling Section. Mogao Grottoes Visit. Free Time in Dunhuang. Sunset at Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring. Yadan National Geologic Park Visit. Yumen Pass and Ruins of the Han Great Wall Visit. Xi’an’s West Gate Visit. Terracotta Warriors Visit. Muslim Quarter Visit. The Great Mosque Visit. Giant Panda Breeding Center Visit. Sample Tea at a local Tea House. Yulong Snow Mountain and Impression Lijiang Show. Baisha Village Visit. Songzanlin Monastery. Old Town Shangri-La. Sunset Li River Cruise. Fuli Village Visit. Shanghai Circus World Acrobatics Show. Shanghai French Concession. Yuyuan Garden. Engaging Discussions with the National Geographic Expedition Expert throughout. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Savor an exclusive Peking Duck dinner atop the Great Wall as the sun sets over the peaks, Go behind the scenes in Xi’an to see rare artifacts and unearthed antiquities, Observe the statues, learning about the army’s lost colors and preservation, Gain entry to the Buddhist caves to view unparalleled Silk Road murals and statues, Watch the dunes of Mingsha Mountain turn gold at sunset from the Crescent Spring oasis, Go behind the scenes learning about the conservation and care of giant pandas, Share a communal banquet, barley wine, and traditional music with Naxi villagers, Shop a spice market and master the heat of Sichuan cuisine in a hands-on class, Sip yak butter tea and share stories in the home of a local Tibetan family, Jia Community lunch Enjoy a farm-to-table meal and hear the story of a G Adventures-supported restaurant.

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.

Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

COMBO TRIP
Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

INTERNET ACCESS
Please note while traveling through mainland China you will not be able to access some popular internet websites, certain websites such as Google, Dropbox, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WordPress,etc. It may be possible to access some of these websites using a VPN. If you wish to use above blocked sites, we suggest you get a suitable VPN on your device prior to travel.

Peak season notice: Golden Week falls between October 1st and 7th, 2019/2020/2021. Please note that Golden Week is a semi-annual 7-day or 8-day national holiday for the people of China. This is a very busy time of the year for domestic tourists, so expect some crowding at major attractions. We recommend booking these dates well in advance as accommodations and transportation availability is extremely limited.

ACCOMMODATION NOTE:
Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

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