China·12 - 21 October 2026

Savoring China: History on a Plate

We'll go beyond the headlines, into the heart of China one bite at a time

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Overview

Most people arrive in China thinking they know what to expect: big cities, ancient temples, fast trains, dumplings. But perhaps there's more? Something unexpected waiting behind every gate, garden, and side street. This journey isn't about observing China from a distance; it's about stepping into it. Over ten days, we'll explore four distinct cities: Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, from a culinary point of view - each offering a unique cultural perspective on this vast country. We begin in Beijing, where history and modernity intertwine. We'll wander through the expansive courtyards of the Forbidden City, gaze over traditional rooftops from Jingshan Park, and savor flavors passed down through generations in the hutongs. Standing atop the Great Wall, we'll reflect on the vastness it was built to protect. In Chengdu, the pace slows. Amid the aroma of spicy Sichuan cuisine and the clatter of mahjong tiles, we'll visit pandas in their serene sanctuary, learn local Sichuan culinary secrets, and witness the mesmerizing art of face changing opera. Hangzhou offers a different kind of beauty. We'll glide across the tranquil waters of West Lake, explore temples nestled in misty hills, and taste tea that captures the essence of the land. Finally, Shanghai greets us with its dynamic energy and world famous soup dumplings. Strolling through the historic French Concession to ascending the heights of the city's tallest skyscrapers, we'll experience a metropolis that seamlessly blends the old with the new. This trip is about embracing contrasts: old and new, quiet and loud, familiar and unknown. It's about delving deeper than the headlines to taste, discover and explore a country full of life, complexity, and surprise. The kind of unique experience will stay with you long after the flight home.

Highlights

Hike, gondola, and toboggan on China's most scenic Wall

Hike, gondola, and toboggan on China's most scenic Wall

See cute pandas up close in a peaceful reserve

See cute pandas up close in a peaceful reserve

Watch stunning mask changes in seconds

Watch stunning mask changes in seconds

Feast on delicate Peking Duck in Beijing

Feast on delicate Peking Duck in Beijing

Shop local markets and cook Sichuan food with a chef

Shop local markets and cook Sichuan food with a chef

Float past pagodas and willow trees on West Lake

Float past pagodas and willow trees on West Lake

Ride the fastest elevator to China’s highest deck

Ride the fastest elevator to China’s highest deck

Sample Shanghai's most famous soup dumplings

Sample Shanghai's most famous soup dumplings

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip. Press the "<" and ">" buttons below to scroll through each day.

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Beijing

Day 1: Monday, October 12th, 2026

After your flight, a representative will greet you at the gate and guide you through expedited immigration and customs procedures. Once you've collected your luggage, your local guide will meet you in the arrival hall. A private vehicle will take you to your hotel, where you can settle in and rest after your journey.

This evening, we'll gather in a charming courtyard kitchen tucked away from the city's bustle. As the chef prepares a ten-course tasting menu using seasonal ingredients in front of us, we can enjoy a welcome drink in a relaxed setting, a nice way to unwind and start connecting over regional flavors, and a glass of wine.

Included

Private airport transfer

Dinner

Welcome drink

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Beijing

Day 2: Tuesday, October 13th, 2026

We’ll start our day with breakfast at the hotel before heading out to explore Beijing’s historic center. First, we’ll visit Tiananmen Square, one of the world’s largest public squares, then continue on foot to the Forbidden City. Once closed off to all but the imperial court, this sprawling palace complex offers a glimpse into China’s dynastic power and artistry.

Just across the street, we’ll climb Jingshan Hill in Jingshan Park. Built from soil excavated from the palace’s moat, the hill offers some of the best views of the Forbidden City’s rooftops and Beijing’s urban skyline.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Drum and Bell Towers, which once kept time for the entire city. From the top, we’ll look out over the hutongs, Beijing’s historic alleyways, and then walk through them on a guided food tour. Along the way, we’ll stop to taste classic dishes and street food favorites, each with its own story and connection to the neighborhood.

Now it's back to the hotel for a relaxing evening and a good night's sleep. 

Included

Guided sightseeing and entrance fees

Guided hutong walking food tour

All meals

Day3

Beijing

Day 3: Wednesday, October 14th, 2026

After breakfast, we'll travel outside the city to Mutianyu, a quieter section of the Great Wall. Less crowded and beautifully preserved, this section winds through forested hills and offers spectacular views. We’ll take a gondola up and enjoy a walk along the wall, with time to explore the watchtowers at our own pace. For those who like a little thrill, there’s an option to ride a toboggan down.

Once back in Beijing, we’ll gather for a Peking duck dinner at one of the city’s renowned restaurants. This crispy, succulent dish has been a culinary staple for centuries, and we’ll watch as the duck is carved tableside and served with traditional accompaniments.

Included

All Meals

Gondola ride

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Beijing - Chengdu

Day 4: Thursday, October 15th, 2026

We’ll enjoy breakfast before transferring to the airport for our flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival, our new local guide will meet us and escort us to our hotel.

Later, we’ll visit Wangjianglou Park for a special kung fu tea performance. This Chengdu tradition blends martial arts grace with precision as the server pours tea into delicate cups with swift, theatrical movements. We’ll also have time to stroll through the park and watch locals dance, chat, or play mahjong under the trees.

Next we'll tour the Shuijingfang Baijiu Museum, where baijiu, the potent spirit often served during banquets, has been produced for centuries. We’ll learn how this strong drink is made and see the working distillery in action.

Dinner tonight features some of Chengdu’s most flavorful local dishes, served in a restaurant known for its traditional recipes.

Afterward, we’ll attend a Sichuan opera performance, where we’ll experience the famous face-changing technique, along with acrobatics and regional storytelling. There’s also the option to experience traditional ear cleaning, a unique local practice that adds a touch of Chengdu charm.

Included

Breakfast & Dinner

Domestic flight to Chengdu

Sichuan opera

Guided visits to Wangjianglou Park & Shuijingfang Baijiu Museum

Not Included

Lunch

Day5

Chengdu, Sichuan Province

Day 5: Friday, October 16th, 2026

After breakfast, we’ll travel outside the city to Dujiangyan Panda Base, one of the best places in China to observe giant pandas up close. The base is surrounded by bamboo forests and designed to reflect the animal’s natural habitat, making it an ideal setting to learn about panda conservation efforts.

In the afternoon, we’ll head to nearby Qingcheng Mountain, a quiet and spiritually significant place in Taoist tradition. We’ll ride a cable car part of the way, then continue on foot, exploring tranquil trails and temple complexes as we ascend. From the summit, the views stretch across layers of misty hills and green valleys.

Back in Chengdu, we’ll enjoy a Sichuan hotpot dinner, an interactive meal where we cook meats, tofu, and vegetables in bubbling broth at the center of our table. For the adventurous among us, some more unusual ingredients might make an appearance too.

Included

All Meals

Guided tour to Dujiangyan Panda Base

Cable car ride and guided hike at Qingcheng Mountain

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Chengdu - Hangzhou

Day 6: Saturday, October 17th, 2026

We’ll begin our day with breakfast, followed by a trip to a local spice market. With our guide, we’ll learn how locals shop for ingredients, then we'll walk together to a quiet courtyard kitchen for a private cooking class. Under the guidance of a local chef, we’ll prepare a full Sichuan meal and then sit down and enjoy it together over tea.

In the afternoon, we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Hangzhou. Upon arrival, we’ll be met by our new guide and transferred to our hotel. The evening is free to relax or explore on your own.

Included

Breakfast

Private cooking class

Domestic flight to Hangzhou

Not Included

Dinner

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Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province

Day 7: Sunday, October 18th, 2026

After breakfast, we’ll take a private boat ride on Hangzhou’s West Lake. As we glide past willows, lotus-filled ponds, and traditional bridges, we’ll begin to understand why this lake has inspired artists and poets for centuries. We’ll pass by temples and islands, and even spot the scene featured on China’s 1RMB banknote.

Next we'll visit Huqingyutang Pharmacy to learn more about traditional Chinese Medicine. At the attached museum, we’ll discover ancient herbal remedies, treatments, and the philosophy behind it all. 

Now it's onto the Lingyin Temple or 'Temple of the Soul’s Retreat,' which takes its name from the peaceful stands of trees that surround it and the gentle sounds of the breeze weaving through the leaves. A testament to its name, Hangzhou's most famous Buddhist temple has been rebuilt 16 times in the millennia since first being constructed in 326 AD, and is now one of China’s most frequented pilgrimages for spiritual seekers and travelers alike.

After a refresh at the hotel tonight we'll have the opportunity to see the "Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show" from visionary director Zhang Yimou this show combines narrative with dance, opera, light, and special effects – all seemingly set on the surface of West Lake itself. As actors and dancers float across their watery stage, a sweeping score from grammy-winning composer Kitaro plays, completing this incomparable stage show.

Included

All Meals

Private boat ride on West Lake

Guided tour to Huqingyutang Pharmacy & Lingyin Temple

Ticket to Enduring Memories

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Hangzhou - Shanghai

Day 8: Monday, October 19th, 2026

We’ll begin our morning with breakfast before heading into the hills outside Hangzhou to visit the Dragon Well tea plantation. This region is known for producing China’s most famous green tea, grown on terraced slopes with views over the countryside. We’ll walk through the rows of tea bushes, stop by the spring said to produce the best brewing water, and visit the home of a local farmer who’s been working this land for decades. After learning how the leaves are harvested and pan-fired, we’ll sit down to enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Longjing tea.

Lunch will be served at Longjing Manor, a Michelin-starred restaurant set in a beautifully restored estate. We’ll dine in a private room overlooking tranquil gardens, sampling refined Hangzhou dishes that bring together seasonal ingredients, regional flavors, and a touch of poetic flair.

After lunch, we’ll transfer to the train station and board a high-speed train to Shanghai. On arrival, our Shanghai guide will be waiting to greet us and take us to our hotel in the heart of the city. The rest of the evening is ours to relax or take a stroll through the lively streets nearby.

Included

Breakfast

Tea-tasting at Dragon Well

Lunch

High-speed train ride to Shanghai

Not Included

Dinner

Day9

Shanghai

Day 9: Tuesday, October 20th, 2026

After breakfast, we’ll set off to explore the Former French Concession, a neighborhood known for its leafy streets, art deco villas, and European-style cafés. Once home to revolutionaries, writers, and movie stars, the area offers a unique window into Shanghai’s colonial past and cosmopolitan identity.

From there, we’ll continue to Xintiandi, where restored stone buildings now house stylish shops, cafés, and galleries. As we wander, we’ll see how Shanghai blends history with modern life in a way few cities can.

Lunch today is at Din Tai Fung, an internationally acclaimed restaurant famous for its soup dumplings. We’ll watch as each dumpling is folded with expert precision, then dig into a spread of steamed bites, crisp greens, and savory noodles.

In the afternoon, we’ll head to Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China. Riding one of the fastest elevators in the world, we’ll reach the observation deck and take in panoramic views of the city’s skyline—from the historic Bund to the skyscrapers of Pudong.

We’ll wrap up the afternoon at Yuyuan Bazaar, a lively market filled with lanterns, antique shops, and food stalls. It’s the perfect place to pick up a few keepsakes and taste a few last bites of local snacks.

In the evening, we’ll meet up for a Shanghai Night Eats Food Tour. With our guide, we’ll walk through side streets and back alleys, sampling the best of Shanghai’s late-night eats—savory, sweet, and everything in between. It’s a fun and flavorful way to celebrate our last full night together.

Included

All Meals

Guided walking tour

Shanghai Tower visit

Walking food tour Yuyuan Bazaar

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Day 10: Wednesday, October 21st, 2026

We’ll enjoy one last breakfast together before transferring to the airport. Our guide will be there to assist with check-in and see us off as we head home with memories of ancient cities, peaceful tea fields, bustling night markets, delectable bites and everything in between.

Included

Airport transfer

You'll Be Staying Here

The PuXuan Hotel and Spa

The PuXuan Hotel and Spa

Nestled in the heart of Beijing's Forbidden City and WangFuJing, The PuXuan Hotel and Spa offers a harmonious blend of history and modern luxury. A mere 8-minute walk from Dongsi Subway Station and within proximity to iconic landmarks like the National Art Museum of China, this hotel pays homage to the city's rich heritage while offering an unparalleled experience. 

The Ritz-Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton

Overlooking Tianfu Square, The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu offers a cosmopolitan experience at the heart of this iconic Chinese city. This contemporary-styled hotel resides in China’s emerging southwest and offers modern hospitality infused with traditional Chinese flourishes. 

The Liu Ying

The Liu Ying

The Liuying Hotel West Lake Hangzhou is a tranquil 5-star retreat nestled along the southern shores of West Lake in Hangzhou’s Shangcheng District. Its prime location offers guests serene lake views and easy access to nearby cultural landmarks such as Leifeng Pagoda, Jingci Temple, and the China National Tea Museum.

The Middle House

The Middle House

The Middle House blends Italian vision with modern aesthetics, topping it all with a uniquely Shanghainese twist. Designed by Italian architect Piero Lissoni to radiate urban sophistication, The Middle House's decor skillfully combines old and new, texture, color, and line to create a thoroughly modern luxury accommodation experience - an oasis of calm set against the dynamic backdrop of Shanghai, a city 25 million people strong.

Hosts

Doni Belau

Doni Belau

Doni Belau is the creator and founder of Girls' Guide to the World. She is an inveterate traveler, having been to over 85 countries (and counting). She comes alive when exploring and seeing, tasting and feeling something or somewhere new. She loves to help other women experience this sensation as she truly believes it helps us see a larger world of possibilities within ourselves.

gg2theworld

Price

Private Room

Private Room

Everyone gets their own fabulous room!

FROM$12,975

Shared Room

Shared Room

Share a room with a friend or family member

FROM$11,785

Add Ons

Arrive one day early in China

Arrive one day early in China

Includes one night and breakfast at the PuXuan Hotel and Spa

PRICE$375.00

ADD THIS

A journey shaped by the landscapes that hold China’s past and present in balance

From Imperial Walls to Lakeside Gardens

Our journey traces a path through the physical heart of China, moving from imperial capitals to quiet mountain trails and lakeside gardens. In Beijing, broad avenues and old alleyways stretch out beneath the shadow of ancient walls, where history feels rooted in the very structure of the city. In Chengdu, the air softens, shaped by tea fields, river valleys, and the slow pace of the Sichuan basin. Hangzhou offers a different kind of beauty, water reflecting sky, stone bridges arching over still canals, hills rolling gently behind West Lake. And in Shanghai, the landscape opens up to the sea, where old-world streets and soaring towers meet at the edge of the horizon. Through it all, the land remains a quiet presence, shaping the way people move, gather, cook, and dream.

From Imperial Walls to Lakeside Gardens

What's Included

What's Included

Everything specified in the itinerary

Accomodations at 5-star hotels for the entire trip

All meals (except where indicated), including beer & wine with dinner

All transportation during the trip (except where indicated)

Expert guides and trip leaders

A small group experience

Domestic flights

Airport transfers

VIP airport arrival service

Guided sightseeing and entrance fees

All meals unless specified - wine or beer included with dinner

Guided hutong food tour

Guided visits to Wangjianglou Park & Shuijingfang Baijiu Museum

Sichuan opera

Guided tour to Dujiangyan Panda Base

Cable car ride and guided hike at Qingcheng Mountain

Private cooking class

Private boat ride on West Lake

Ticket to Enduring Memories

Guided tour to Huqingyutang Pharmacy & Lingyin Temple

Tea-tasting at Dragon Well

High-speed train ride to Shanghai

Walking food tour Yuyuan Bazaar

Shanghai Tower visit

Additional wine, beer, and/or spirits beyond what’s offered at meals

All personal souvenirs

Travel and medical insurance (required)

Any spa treatment desired

Round-trip airfare to China

FAQs

Fly into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) in Beijing, China, but you'll be leaving from Shanghai. 

The trip officially starts on October 12, 2026. If you're traveling internationally to reach China, consider arriving a day early to relax and adjust to the local time zone. You can find the Arrive 1 Day Early option in the Add-ons section.

We will have a Zoom call about 6 weeks before the trip starts to discuss all that information and give you a packing list. Here is a great website we love that will help you with packing and travel trips.

October is one of the best times to visit China, with mild, comfortable weather across the country. In Beijing, expect cool, sunny days around 50–70°F (10–21°C). Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai are slightly warmer, averaging 60–75°F (16–24°C), with low humidity and occasional light rain. It’s ideal for sightseeing, so light layers and a jacket are recommended.

Visa requirements for entering China vary by nationality and purpose of visit. Generally, travelers need a valid passport with at least six months' validity and two blank pages. Most visitors require a tourist visa, which can be obtained online here

Inquire about this trip

Savoring China: History on a Plate

China· 12 - 21 October 2026· 9 nights

FROM$12,975/pp