China highlights, small group tour
Highlights
Beijing | Temple of Heaven | Forbidden City | Summer Palace | Xizhazi | Jiankou Great Wall | Xi’an | Terra-cotta Army | Lijiang | Jade Dragon Snow Mountain | Yunnan | Tiger Leaping Gorge | Gandan Sumtseling Monastery | Kunming | Shanghai |Description of China highlights, small group tour
This fantastic small group tour of China highlights the country's cultural heritage as well as the stunning natural landscapes that have made this return journey to Beijing via Chengdu, Lijiang and Kunming such an enviable experience for modern day travellers.From the Forbidden City and hutong districts in Beijing to walking on the Jiankou-Mutianyu sections of the Great Wall you'll find this China highlights small group tour starts as it means to go on prior to taking a high-speed train to Xi'an and a chance to see, first-hand, the world-famous Terracotta Warriors.
The China highlights on this small group tour don't stop and after Xi'an you'll fly to Lijiang over the Yangtze River whereupon indigenous Naxi and Yi communities invite you to share their beautiful natural world, including the legendary Tiger Leaping Gorge.
The closer you get to Shangri-la the more Tibetan cultural influences come to the fore with visits to the ancient Songzanlin Monastery bound to be one of the cultural China highlights of this small group tour before your final domestic flight to the bright lights of the Bund and Shanghai.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comCheck dates, prices & availability
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.

To help us protect and preserve what remains of both China’s wonderful cultural and natural heritage, we ask that all of our travel participants help care for the environments they visit by being respectfully aware of the unique locations we take them to. Indeed, due to the popularity of the Great Wall today, it is essential that we help protect the future of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a bonus of our unique approach, you will also discover that our tour groups are small in size so that are impacts are minimised, and of course, so that we can afford you the attention you deserve!
The Impacts of this Trip
Our itinerary has been designed to fully incorporate the local communities of the regions we visit. We value their unique insights, knowledge, and hospitality, and believe that they too should benefit from tourism too. We respect their traditions and beliefs, and are acutely aware of the need to respect indigenous people and religious sites in particular.
Wherever possible, we use locally-owned guesthouses, hotels, restaurants, and services to ensure that local communities and business prosper in a highly competitive market. An added bonus of using locally-owned services and people is that they will often be highly enthusiastic, generous and proud to welcome you into the places where many have be born and raised.
We are also exceptionally aware of the need to use local ‘green’ tourism services and businesses to ensure that the natural and social environments that host tourism are protected and well-managed. This includes the use of locally-sourced produce such as food and crafts, for example. However, perhaps one of the greatest reasons for using locally-owned accommodation is that you will see the ‘real’ China in its various guises. You will sample traditional villages, religious customs, cuisines, and ways of life that can be significantly different to anything you may have experienced before. We will also take you to incredible places away from the tourist crowds to ensure that your experiences are genuinely unique. We fully believe that this is a wonderful way to learn about this spectacular country and have no doubt that you will agree!


To help us protect and preserve what remains of both China’s wonderful cultural and natural heritage, we ask that all of our travel participants help care for the environments they visit by being respectfully aware of the unique locations we take them to. Indeed, due to the popularity of the Great Wall today, it is essential that we help protect the future of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a bonus of our unique approach, you will also discover that our tour groups are small in size so that are impacts are minimised, and of course, so that we can afford you the attention you deserve!

The Impacts of this Trip
Our itinerary has been designed to fully incorporate the local communities of the regions we visit. We value their unique insights, knowledge, and hospitality, and believe that they too should benefit from tourism too. We respect their traditions and beliefs, and are acutely aware of the need to respect indigenous people and religious sites in particular.
Wherever possible, we use locally-owned guesthouses, hotels, restaurants, and services to ensure that local communities and business prosper in a highly competitive market. An added bonus of using locally-owned services and people is that they will often be highly enthusiastic, generous and proud to welcome you into the places where many have be born and raised.
We are also exceptionally aware of the need to use local ‘green’ tourism services and businesses to ensure that the natural and social environments that host tourism are protected and well-managed. This includes the use of locally-sourced produce such as food and crafts, for example. However, perhaps one of the greatest reasons for using locally-owned accommodation is that you will see the ‘real’ China in its various guises. You will sample traditional villages, religious customs, cuisines, and ways of life that can be significantly different to anything you may have experienced before. We will also take you to incredible places away from the tourist crowds to ensure that your experiences are genuinely unique. We fully believe that this is a wonderful way to learn about this spectacular country and have no doubt that you will agree!

Our travel guides
Find related holidays
Our travel guides
Find related holidays
Popular similar holidays
China highlights tour, tailor made
Walk along the Great Wall and relax in the stunning LiRiver
From US $2319 - US $2719 11 days including domestic flights only
China culture & hiking holiday
A wonderful experience of real China
From US $2830 - US $3600 14 days including domestic flights only
China holiday and Yangtze river cruise
A comprehensive China itinerary covering its length and breadth
From £3249 - £3799 20 days including UK flights
Great Wall of China walking holiday
Trek along various contrasting sections of the wall
From £1949 - £2299 10 days including UK flights