14-Day China Discovery: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin & Chengdu
Introduction
Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Chengdu / 14 Days / 13 Nights
Travel & LIV Collective China Takeover- Season 2
After selling out our first China group trip in March 2026 with 24 travelers, we’re officially RUNNING IT BACK—this time with a completely different itinerary!
Join Travel & LIV Collective from May 19–June 1, 2027, for an unforgettable journey through Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Yangshuo, the Longji Rice Terraces, and Chengdu.
From ancient landmarks and rich cultural experiences to breathtaking landscapes, incredible food, exciting adventures, and meaningful connections, this trip will show you a whole new side of China. Expect iconic sights, hidden gems, bucket-list moments, and memories you’ll be talking about long after we return home.
If China has been on your bucket list, this is your sign to stop waiting and experience it with a group of like-minded travelers who are ready to explore, connect, and have the time of their lives!
Tour Highlights
At a glance
Wednesday, May 19, 2027
Thursday, May 20, 2027
Friday, May 21, 2027
Saturday, May 22, 2027
Sunday, May 23, 2027
Monday, May 24, 2027
Tuesday, May 25, 2027
Wednesday, May 26, 2027
Thursday, May 27, 2027
Friday, May 28, 2027
Saturday, May 29, 2027
Sunday, May 30, 2027
Monday, May 31, 2027
Tuesday, June 1, 2027
Wednesday, May 19, 2027
Day 1 - Arrival in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and Discover Its Unique Culture
Arrival in Beijing
Be met at the Beijing airport upon arrival. Begin your journey in China's capital, a city renowned for its unique character, historic sites, and vibrant culture.
Check into our 5 diamond rated hotel in Beijing
Stay in a comfortable 4-star hotel, such as the Scitech Hotel (or a similar property), during your first four days exploring Beijing.
🥂Welcome Dinner
Kick off your adventure by getting to know your fellow travelers over a delicious welcome dinner. This is your chance to break the ice, make new friends, and connect with the group before the journey begins. Enjoy authentic local cuisine, great conversations, and a fun, relaxed atmosphere as we toast to an unforgettable week of exploring China together. By the end of the night, you'll already feel like you're traveling with friends.
Thursday, May 20, 2027
Day 2 - Beijing: Tian'anmen, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Explore Beijing's Iconic Landmarks and Cuisine
Tian'anmen Square
Tian'anmen Square is the biggest city center square in the world, covering 44 hectares in the heart of Beijing. It is the place where history-changing events and ceremonies occurred. The north entrance gate is the magnificent Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tian'anmen), the symbol of the People's Republic China. Tiananmen Square is the Holy Land in the hearts of the Chinese people, and is the heart of great China.
The Forbidden City
The Imperial Palace was formerly known as the Forbidden City, which covers an area of over 720,000 m2, has more than 9,000 buildings and construction area of 150,000 square meters. Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is the existing China's largest and most complete ancient buildings. It was first built in 1406 and finished in 1420. In its 500 years of history, there were 24 emperors living here. Experiencing several times renovation and expansion during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Forbidden City is still remaining its original layout. (closed on Monday)
The Temple of Heaven
Temple of Heaven is located in the south-east of the Forbidden City. It covers an area of 273 hectares which is four times larger than the Forbidden City. It was used to hold a memorial ceremony for the God in Winter Solstice Festival and to pray for harvest in the first month of the lunar year by the emperors in Ming and Qing dynasties. It is China's existing largest structure for sacrifice to heaven.
Wangfujing Commercial Street
Wangfujing is a 700-year-old commercial street in Beijing. It has maintained its position as the number one choice for shoppers since the mid-1980s. The Wangfujing Department Store has long been acknowledged as the largest, most fashionable one-stop shopping center in Beijing. It has a total length of about 1.5 kilometers, boasts a shoppers paradise of merchants catering to every desire.
Beijing Roast Duck Dinner
Beijing cuisine enjoys international fame for the variety of dishes developed in the imperial kitchens of several dynasties. None is more universally renowned than the roasted duck named for the city, Beijing Roast Duck. Esteemed by gourmets for its mouth-watering aroma, tempting appearance and delicate taste, there are secrets in the cooking, skill in the preparation and serving and delight in the tasting. The crispy skin and the juicy meat leave a deep impression on first-time consumers during their Beijing trip; and the essence of this dish is the skin, so there are special techniques to serving and eating the crisp skin for maximum enjoyment.
Friday, May 21, 2027
Day 3 - Mutianyu Great Wall, Olympic Venues, Hutongs & Lakes
Discover Great Wall, Olympic Venues, and Beijing Hutongs
The Great Wall of China
Mutianyu Great Wall was first built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, making it older than the Badaling section. It is connected with Jiankou in the west and Lianhuachi and Jinshanling in the east. In 1569, the Mutianyu Great Wall was rebuilt, mainly with granite and is one of the best-preserved sections with the largest construction scale and best quality among all sections of Great Wall, being 7-8 meters high and 4-5 meters wide with 22 watchtowers on this 2,250-meter-long section. It served as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs.
Outside View of Water Cube & Bird's Nest
It is recommended to appreciate this magnificent architecture from the outside. The National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, is located on Olympic Green, with the Bird's Nest Stadium, on Beijing's north-south axis. It was built as the main natatorium for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and became known as one of the Games' iconic structures. The external appearance was inspired by the natural formation of soap bubbles!
Nanluoguxiang Alley
Nanluoguxiang is one of the most famous Hutong districts in Beijing. Hutong refer to the old style alleyways where large numbers of one-story courtyard houses are located in Beijing. Many of these areas are now protected in order to preserve their unique architecture. Nanluoguxiang is one of these places, which has proved to be a mix of history, fashion and shops. No wonder it’s a big hit with tourists especially the younger generation.
Houhai Lake
Houhai is an integral part of Shichahai. Houhai is the largest of the three lakes, along with Qianhai (lit. the "Front Sea") and Xihai (lit. the "Western Sea"), that comprise Shichahai, the collective name for the three northern-most lakes in central Beijing. Its total area is 146.7 hectares, of which the waters area is 34 hectares, green area is 11.5 hectares. This is the ancient waters in Beijing 700 years ago, during the period of Dadu. In fact, it is a huge artificial lake, is the royal exclusive pool in ancient time.
Saturday, May 22, 2027
Day 4- Summer Palace, Train to Xi'an & Dumpling Banquet
Explore Summer Palace and Travel to Xi'an
The Summer Palace
Originally known as the 'Garden of Clear Ripples', the Summer Palace is a magnificent imperial garden located 15 km north of Beijing City. This is the largest ancient preserved garden in China and a former summer retreat for Emperors and the chosen few! The site includes more than 100 ancient style pavilions, mansions, towers, halls, temples, bridges and an enormous clear water lake. During the hot Beijing summers, the Imperial Family preferred the beautiful gardens and airy pavilions of the Summer Palace to the walled-in Forbidden City. It is also the best preserved royal palace, known as the Royal Garden Museum.
Transfer to Beijing Bullet Train Station
Departure
Beijing
12:55PmDestination
Beijing Train Station
Be transferred to the Beijing train station and start our journey to Xi'an
Check into our 5 diamond rated hotel in Xi'an
Stay at the 4-star Eastern House Boutique Hotel, or a similar premium property, as your second accommodation while exploring the historic city of Xi'an.
Defachang Dumpling Restaurant - Dumpling Banquet
Defachang, established in 1936, is the most famous restaurant of its kind with a wide variety of Chinese dumplings. The dumplings of Defachang even won a place in the Guinness World Records. Dumpling is one of the most representative foods of Chinese dietary. In Xi’an Shaanxi, dumpling is popular among eaters of various ages. Although Chinese dumplings are tasty and meaningful, they basically look the same and have only a few flavors for many years. However, the dumpling restaurants in Xi’an made something different and created Chinese dumpling banquet. It is a lordly feast composed by all kinds of dumplings with different colors and appearances as well as inside stuffs. Dishes of Chinese dumpling banquet are tasty, aromatic, colorful, and pleasant to the eyes. And the banquet is classified into several grades, each with different fillings, shapes, flavors, and prices. Today, the special feast keeps being one of necessary foods in traditional festivals, such as Spring Festivals and Lantern Festival.
Sunday, May 23, 2027
Day 5 - Xi'an: Terracotta Army, Pagoda, Gao Family Courtyard, Datang Everbright City
Discover Xi'an's Ancient Wonders and Culture
Qin Terracotta Army Museum
The Terracotta Army or the 'Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses', is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210-209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. The Terracotta Army was discovered in March 1974 by a farmer. So far, 1,868 terracotta warriors and chariots have been unearthed. in 1987 the Terracotta Army was listed by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage and known as the eighth wonder of the world.
Dayan Pagoda Northern Square
Wild goose pagoda is located in the north square, at the foot of the wild goose pagoda. The square is a large music fountain plaza, 218 meters wide from east to west, north and south long 346 meters is the country and the largest music fountain square in Asia. We could aslo view the the wild goose pagoda at the square.
Gao Family Courtyard
The former Residence of GaoYuesong, located at 144 of Beiyuanmen. It was built in 14 years of the reign of emperor Chongzhen, Ming Dynasty. It was listed as a key Project of Sino-Norway Historical Districts Protection in 1999. Invested by Norway and headed by Mr. Zhang Xiyuan, the residence was thoroughly repaired, which won the 'Prize for Cultural Heritage Protection in Asian Pacific Area of UNESCO in 2002'.
Datang Everbright City
The Datang Everbright City, a tourist landmark of Xi'an featuring a grand street with characteristics of Tang Dynasty (618-907), has a total length of 2,100 meters from north to south and spans 500 meters wide from east to west.
Monday, May 24, 2027
Day 6 - Xi'an to Guilin, Ancient City Wall & Muslim Street
Experience Xi'an's Heritage and Fly to Guilin
Xi'an Ancient City Wall
Xian was always a walled city, and today's wall represents one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. The first city wall of Chang’An was begun in 194 BCE. The existing wall was started during the Ming Dynasty in 1370, measuring 13.7 km in circumference, 12 m in height, and 15-18 m in thickness at the base. The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the inner city. The city itself is neatly arranged along the city wall. This impressive structure is just a precursor to the remarkable discoveries awaiting visitors to Xian.
Taiji class
Regarding to Taichi, which is more than one Kongfu now, it’s the popular sport in China. Tai Chi can also be an introduction to martial arts as some of the movements are slow versions of defensive or aggressive positions. Generally, Tai Chi is great for coordinating all of your body organs and muscles into a unified machine. With Tai Chi, you can control your breathing, pulse and muscles. Combined with a healthy diet, you can be assured to feel much better and live healthier. If you are interesting about Chinese Kongfu and now you’ve got one good opportunity to learn that during your tour in Xi'an. The Taiji class takes about 30 minutes. The Taiji Master will teach you some basic foundation and perform skill of Taiji. Stand on the ancient city wall, learning Tai Chi must be an unforgettable experience for tourists.
Muslim Street
Located in the center of Xi'an City, the Muslim Street is a fantastic place to wander. All shops and restaurants in the street are operated by Muslims. The stalls flanking the narrow alleys sell almost everything you can imagine. Xian Muslim Street, also known as antique street, it is collectively name of many streets in Muslim district which consists of Beiyuan gate, North Guangji street, west Yangshi, Dapiyuan several streets. Local people used to call there for the Muslim lane. It makes distinctive scenery of this ancient city based on the rich Muslim culture and atmosphere. Most streets here are built with bluestone paving, tree-lined road lined with Ming and Qing dynasties style buildings, which is full of Muslim characteristics.
Transfer to Xi'an Airport
Departure
Xi'an
Destination
Xi'an Airport
Be transferred to the Xi'an airport and be on our way to Guilin
Check into our 5 diamond rated hotel
Stay at the 4-star Ronghu Hotel, or a similar premium property, as your accommodation in Guilin while taking in the city's breathtaking karst mountains, tranquil lakes, and picturesque scenery.
Tuesday, May 25, 2027
Day 7 - Longji Rice Terraces & Pingan Zhuang Village
Explore Longji Rice Terraces and Zhuang Village
Longji Rice Terraces
The Rice Terraces in Longji village show a picture of great momentum and imposing beauty, being reputed as having no match in the world. Longji Rice Terraces are reached from Guilin by mountain roads amid spectacular scenery. With a history of more than 700 years, the area is still being used for growing premium quality rice by Yao and Zhuang villagers. The rice terraces are built into the hillsides and look like great steps cut into the slopes as they wind around the mountainsides. This ingenious construction makes best use of the scarce arable land and water resources in the mountainous area.
Pingan Zhuang Village
Pingan Zhuang Village was originally built in the end of Ming Dynasty. It is the code village in Longji area. The well-preserved Zhuang ethnic cloth and lifestyle make this village attractive and special for visitors to come.
Wednesday, May 26, 2027
Day 8 - Guilin to Yangshuo, Li River Cruise & Impression Show
Cruise the Li River and Experience Impression Show
Li-river Cruise (4 star boat)
Li River, situated in Guilin City of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is a bright pearl on the list of China's tourist attractions and it is the highlight of sightseeing tour in Guilin. The 83-km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is the masterpiece of Li River, decorated with rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves, leisurely boats and lined bamboos which is just like enjoying a melodious symphony. Hanyu vividly described the enchanting beauty of the Lijiang River in his poem: The River looks like a blue silk ribbon, and the mountains resemble emerald hairpins.
Impression show of Liusanjie (B2 seat)
The show of Impression Liu Sanjie can be regarded as one highlight of Yangshuo tour. It is a night show which you’ve never seen. This is a virtual scenery performance. The largest difference from other shows is the water & hill scenery theater. It uses the waters of Li River as the stage, 12 hills as background. With the vast sky, it consists of the largest virtual scenery theatre in the world. As it is an outdoor theater and the scenes of show are combined with the natural sightseeing, tourist will find the show different season from season and day from day depending on changeable weather condition.
Check into 5 diamond rated hotel
Stay at the 5 diamond rated Four Seasons Yunqi Hotel, or a similar premium property, as your accommodation in Guilin while taking in the city's breathtaking karst mountains, tranquil lakes, and picturesque scenery.
Thursday, May 27, 2027
Day 9 - Free Leisure in Yangshuo
Enjoy Free Leisure Time in Yangshuo
Free leisure at your own arrangement
Today is yours to explore at your own pace and soak in the breathtaking natural beauty that makes Yangshuo one of China's most stunning destinations. Rent a moped for around $10 USD per day and cruise through picturesque countryside, charming villages, and dramatic karst mountain landscapes.
If you're looking for an adrenaline rush, choose from a variety of optional adventures, including paragliding, visiting the Ruyi Scenic Area to walk across its spectacular sky bridge, rock climbing, ATV rides, cave exploration, or simply wandering through Yangshuo's vibrant streets filled with cafés, shops, and local culture.
Whether you're chasing adventure or embracing a slower pace, today is all about experiencing Yangshuo your way.
Friday, May 28, 2027
Day 10 - Free Leisure in Yangshuo
Enjoy Free Leisure Time in Yangshuo
Free leisure at your own arrangement
Free leisure at your own arrangement.
Saturday, May 29, 2027
Day 11 - Yangshuo to Chengdu via Guilin
Travel from Yangshuo to Chengdu and Culinary Experience
Check into 5 dimond rated accomodation
Stay at the 5 diamond rated Hotel, or a similar premium property, as your accommodation in Chengdu.
Kuan Zhai Lane
Chengdu's Kuan Zhai Lane (The Wide and Narrow Alleys) carries happy memories of the past Chengdu. It is one of the three major historical & cultural conservation areas in Chengdu City, not only the last relic of the city pattern of 'thousand-year-old young city' and the one-hundred-year original architectural structure of old Chengdu, but also the only existing copy in southern China from the lane (Hutong) culture and architectural style of northern China.
Dinner at Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum & Cooking class
You will have a journey of cultural exploration, including tasting local popular snacks, sightseeing for cultural relics, walking through Old Sichuan restaurant alley. Change into chef uniforms and start a cooking class to cook three typical Sichuan dishes: Panda Steamed Dumplings, Kung Pao Chicken and Mapo Tofu. Enjoy the meal you cooked together with daily soup, steamed rice, pickles as well as fruit juice.
Sunday, May 30, 2027
Day 12 - Chengdu Research Base, Tea House & Hot Pot
Pandas, Old Tea House, Hot Pot and Opera
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The Giant Panda Breeding Research Base is located on Futoushan Mountain 10 km away from downtown Chengdu. It has three floors dedicated to research, and one floor used to educate the public on the research to promote China's endangered species. There are large open areas for the giant pandas to roam free. The Research Base is a delightful experience for visitors of all ages. The giant pandas are adorable, and to watch them romp in their large open air enclosures is a delightful experience. The best time to visit is in the morning, during feeding time between 8:30 and 10:00. After then, it's likely that the bears will be indulging in their favorite pastime.
Pengzhen Old Tea House
Pengzhen Old Tea House is an old and authentic tea house near Chengdu. It is located by the riverside of Yangliu in Shuangliu District, Chengdu. It has a history of over 100 years and a famous photography location for many photo lovers. The tea house itself has been listed as a protected old building. This place is also named Guanyin Attic, from a story from 150 years ago that an accident fire spared this building because of Guanyin. The age of this building is from 150 years old to over 300 years old according to different old people who drink tea here. Next to this tea house is an actual old street where local people kept everything the way it was half-century ago. The neighboring area is also interesting to explore.
Chengdu SKP
Hot Pot with In-restaurant Face-changing Show
The big draw of Chengdu is delicious Sichuan Cuisine. Sichuan is famous for its spicy food, and one of its delicacies is the hot pot. Fortunately, you will have a chance to taste Sichuan Hot Pot today. The Sichuan Hot Pot is a bubbling cauldron of extremely hot oil and water. Dip your choice of the variety of supplied foods into the pot: meats, vegetables or tofu. It's a very social meal. People sit around to enjoy food and make a long evening out of it. Sichuan Opera is well-known in China, and it is characterized by solo singing, skillful acting, rich percussion and incredibly funny comedies. Performers wear brightly colored costumes and move to quick, dramatic music. They also wear vividly colored masks that they may change within a fraction of a second. The magic stunts such as quick face changes without makeup and the acrobatics such as jumping through burning hoops and hiding swords entertain and amuse audiences. The magical face changes are particularly famous.
Monday, May 31, 2027
Day 13 - Mt. Leshan, Giant Buddha, Food Street & Chunxi Road
Explore Leshan Giant Buddha and Chengdu Food Streets
Leshan Giant Buddha
Climbing up the Buddha with our guide accompany. Registered as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 1997, Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone sculpture of Buddha in the world, lies at the confluence of the Min, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. Carved out of a cliff face, it sits impassively against the mountain, hands on his knees and looking across the river with heavy-lidded eyes. The Giant Buddha is about 71 meters high and 24 meters wide. The head is 14.7 meters long and 10 meters wide with total 1021 buns of hair on it, and his toenail can accommodate a seated person. Each eyebrow is 18 feet long. The instep, which is 8.5 meters wide, can accommodate 100 people. The toe is large enough to accommodate a dinner table. Taller by 17 meters than the standing Buddha in Afghanistan, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the tallest and largest Buddha in the world. A local saying says, "The Mountain is a Buddha, the Buddha is a Mountain".
Zhanggongqiao Food Street
Zhanggongqiao Food Street has a long-standing history that dates back decades. Originally a simple market, it gradually evolved into a food street known for its delicious offerings. Over the years, it has attracted countless food vendors and chefs, each contributing their unique flavors and techniques to the street's culinary landscape. Today, it stands as a testament to Leshan's rich food culture and heritage. Zhanggongqiao Food Street is a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering a wide range of Sichuan specialties. From spicy Hot Pots and savory noodles to sweet desserts and refreshing drinks, there's something to satisfy every palate. Some of the must-try dishes include Leshan's famous spicy crayfish, mala tang (spicy Hot Pot), and sweet bean jelly. These dishes showcase the bold flavors and unique ingredients that define Sichuan Cuisine.
Chunxi Road
Chunxi Road (春熙路) is in fact a business circle consists of several streets in about 20 hectares and is the label of fashion of Chengdu. Also, it has been regarded as the “3rd business street in China” that has high indexes of sightseeing, food, transportation, rest area, popularity and business, with Causeway Bay in Hong Kong and Nanjing Road in Shanghai being the top two. Built in 1924, Chunxi Road was named after an allusion in “Tao Te ching” to describe its flourishing scene. Till now, it has been always hustle and bustle of large crowds for nearly 100 years, and you can not only shop in diverse stores from inexpensive to high end, but also enjoy delicious food from home and abroad while appreciating the passers-by. After the running of Metro Line 2 that containing the Chunxi Road Stop, Chunxi Road has gained another group of visitors and shoppers. Since it is the top prosperous areas in this city, it will be a regret if you go to Chengdu but fail to visit Chunxi Road.
Tuesday, June 1, 2027
Day 14 - Departure from Chengdu
Departure and Transfer to Chengdu Airport
Be transferred to the Chengdu airport
Be transferred to the Chengdu airport.