CHINA OF A THOUSAND FACES
A Journey Through the History and Soul of China
This itinerary blends China’s must-see landmarks—such as the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, and Shanghai’s iconic Bund—with meaningful, immersive experiences rooted in art, craftsmanship, and everyday life.
Faces of China invites you to discover the country from within: sharing a meal with a local family in Beijing, taking part in a cooking workshop in Pingyao, or wandering through the historic lilongs of Shanghai. Designed for travelers seeking more than the surface, this journey reveals the unseen, celebrates authenticity, and focuses on what truly matters. At every stage, a multifaceted, welcoming, and profoundly human China comes to life before you.
Faces of China invites you to discover the country from within: sharing a meal with a local family in Beijing, taking part in a cooking workshop in Pingyao, or wandering through the historic lilongs of Shanghai. Designed for travelers seeking more than the surface, this journey reveals the unseen, celebrates authenticity, and focuses on what truly matters. At every stage, a multifaceted, welcoming, and profoundly human China comes to life before you.
Day 1 Beijing
Arrival in Beijing and welcome by your French-speaking guide. Walk across the iconic Tiananmen Square, then visit the Forbidden City (UNESCO), the former imperial residence with its vast courtyards, red walls, and golden-roofed pavilions. Continue to the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO) and its surrounding park, where emperors once prayed for good harvests during the summer solstice.
Arrival in Beijing and welcome by your French-speaking guide. Walk across the iconic Tiananmen Square, then visit the Forbidden City (UNESCO), the former imperial residence with its vast courtyards, red walls, and golden-roofed pavilions. Continue to the Temple of Heaven (UNESCO) and its surrounding park, where emperors once prayed for good harvests during the summer solstice.
Day 2 Beijing
Excursion to the Great Wall (UNESCO), Mutianyu section, dramatically winding along forested ridges (optional cable car ascent and descent). Return to Beijing and visit the 798 Art District, a former Mao-era industrial zone transformed into a vibrant contemporary art hub filled with galleries, boutiques, and cafés. Visit a pearl workshop. Dinner features Peking duck, the capital’s most celebrated specialty.
Excursion to the Great Wall (UNESCO), Mutianyu section, dramatically winding along forested ridges (optional cable car ascent and descent). Return to Beijing and visit the 798 Art District, a former Mao-era industrial zone transformed into a vibrant contemporary art hub filled with galleries, boutiques, and cafés. Visit a pearl workshop. Dinner features Peking duck, the capital’s most celebrated specialty.
Day 3 Beijing → Pingyao (High-Speed Train)
Visit the Lama Temple, an important example of the Qing emperors’ support of Buddhism. Enjoy a traditional tea art session with tasting. Stroll through the hutongs, Beijing’s historic alleyways lined with traditional low-rise homes. Transfer to the railway station and board the high-speed train to Pingyao. Overnight in Pingyao.
Visit the Lama Temple, an important example of the Qing emperors’ support of Buddhism. Enjoy a traditional tea art session with tasting. Stroll through the hutongs, Beijing’s historic alleyways lined with traditional low-rise homes. Transfer to the railway station and board the high-speed train to Pingyao. Overnight in Pingyao.
Day 4 Pingyao
Discover Pingyao (UNESCO), one of China’s best-preserved medieval walled cities from the Ming and Qing dynasties, known for its cobbled streets, traditional wooden houses, and historic banking institutions. Visit Rishengchang Draft Bank, the Yamen, the China Finance Museum, the Confucius Temple, and the old commercial streets. Participate in a local noodle-cooking workshop, preparing traditional Shanxi dishes.
Discover Pingyao (UNESCO), one of China’s best-preserved medieval walled cities from the Ming and Qing dynasties, known for its cobbled streets, traditional wooden houses, and historic banking institutions. Visit Rishengchang Draft Bank, the Yamen, the China Finance Museum, the Confucius Temple, and the old commercial streets. Participate in a local noodle-cooking workshop, preparing traditional Shanxi dishes.
Day 5 Pingyao → Xi’an (High-Speed Train)
Travel by high-speed train to Xi’an, one of China’s ancient capitals and a flourishing center during the Tang dynasty. Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an City Museum, followed by a Chinese calligraphy initiation. Visit a jade workshop. In the evening, enjoy a banquet of Xi’an’s famous dumplings. Optional sound-and-light show on the city walls, Dream of Chang’an (payable locally).
Travel by high-speed train to Xi’an, one of China’s ancient capitals and a flourishing center during the Tang dynasty. Visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an City Museum, followed by a Chinese calligraphy initiation. Visit a jade workshop. In the evening, enjoy a banquet of Xi’an’s famous dumplings. Optional sound-and-light show on the city walls, Dream of Chang’an (payable locally).
Day 6 Xi’an
Excursion to Lintong to visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (UNESCO), China’s first unified emperor, guarded by his extraordinary Terracotta Army of more than 7,000 life-sized warriors. Visit the Great Mosque, an active place of worship blending Islamic and traditional Chinese architectural styles. Free time to explore the lively Muslim Quarter. Dinner features Chinese hot pot. Optional Tang dynasty dance performance (payable locally).
Excursion to Lintong to visit the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (UNESCO), China’s first unified emperor, guarded by his extraordinary Terracotta Army of more than 7,000 life-sized warriors. Visit the Great Mosque, an active place of worship blending Islamic and traditional Chinese architectural styles. Free time to explore the lively Muslim Quarter. Dinner features Chinese hot pot. Optional Tang dynasty dance performance (payable locally).
Day 7 Xi’an → Guilin → Ping'an Village (Terraced Rice Fields)
Flight to Guilin, known as the “Forest of Osmanthus” and celebrated for landscapes that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. Continue to Ping’an, a Zhuang ethnic minority village in the Longji (Dragon’s Backbone) Mountains, home to some of China’s most spectacular terraced rice fields. Walk through the village and along the terraces.
Flight to Guilin, known as the “Forest of Osmanthus” and celebrated for landscapes that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. Continue to Ping’an, a Zhuang ethnic minority village in the Longji (Dragon’s Backbone) Mountains, home to some of China’s most spectacular terraced rice fields. Walk through the village and along the terraces.
Day 8 Ping'an → Chengyang Dong Village
Transfer to Chengyang, a picturesque Dong minority village built according to traditional geomantic principles and set between hills and riverbanks. Visit the famous Wind and Rain Bridge, a classic Dong covered bridge, and stroll around the drum tower square. Attend a traditional Dong singing performance and visit a local Dong family.
Transfer to Chengyang, a picturesque Dong minority village built according to traditional geomantic principles and set between hills and riverbanks. Visit the famous Wind and Rain Bridge, a classic Dong covered bridge, and stroll around the drum tower square. Attend a traditional Dong singing performance and visit a local Dong family.
Day 9 Chengyang → Yangshuo: Fairy-Tale Landscapes
Morning transfer to Yangshuo, a charming town surrounded by rice paddies and karst hills. Explore the local market and West Street (Xijie). Visit a green tea plantation with tasting. Enjoy a boat cruise on the Li River, drifting past dramatic limestone peaks, bamboo groves, farmers in the fields, and fishermen on traditional rafts.
Morning transfer to Yangshuo, a charming town surrounded by rice paddies and karst hills. Explore the local market and West Street (Xijie). Visit a green tea plantation with tasting. Enjoy a boat cruise on the Li River, drifting past dramatic limestone peaks, bamboo groves, farmers in the fields, and fishermen on traditional rafts.
Day 10 Yangshuo → Shanghai
Visit Fuli, an ancient riverside town, and stroll along its cobbled main street and local shops. Continue to Xingping, an old fishing village with well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. Transfer to Guilin Airport and fly to Shanghai. Arrival and hotel check-in.
Visit Fuli, an ancient riverside town, and stroll along its cobbled main street and local shops. Continue to Xingping, an old fishing village with well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. Transfer to Guilin Airport and fly to Shanghai. Arrival and hotel check-in.
Day 11 Shanghai → Tongli → Suzhou: Canal Towns & the Venice of the East
Transfer to Tongli, a traditional canal town of the Yangtze Delta. Visit Tuisi Garden and enjoy a boat ride along the historic canals. Continue to Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East” and China’s silk capital, famed for its classical gardens (UNESCO). Explore the old town and the lively Pingjiang Road district.
Transfer to Tongli, a traditional canal town of the Yangtze Delta. Visit Tuisi Garden and enjoy a boat ride along the historic canals. Continue to Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East” and China’s silk capital, famed for its classical gardens (UNESCO). Explore the old town and the lively Pingjiang Road district.
Day 12 Suzhou → Shanghai
Visit the Master of Nets Garden, one of China’s most poetic classical gardens, with pavilions, zigzag bridges, bamboo groves, and lotus ponds. Return to Shanghai and visit a silk workshop. Stroll along Nanjing Road and the historic Bund, offering views of colonial-era buildings and Pudong’s modern skyline. Optional Shanghai by Night excursion (payable locally).
Visit the Master of Nets Garden, one of China’s most poetic classical gardens, with pavilions, zigzag bridges, bamboo groves, and lotus ponds. Return to Shanghai and visit a silk workshop. Stroll along Nanjing Road and the historic Bund, offering views of colonial-era buildings and Pudong’s modern skyline. Optional Shanghai by Night excursion (payable locally).
Day 13 Shanghai → Paris (via Stopover)
Morning walk in Fuxing Park, where locals gather to exercise, dance, and play cards. Explore the former French Concession, then wander through Xintiandi and Tianzifang, discovering Shanghai’s traditional lilongs, boutiques, and cafés. Lunch featuring Xiaolongbao, Shanghai’s signature soup dumplings. Visit Shanghai Old Town and the Shanghai Museum, home to an outstanding collection of Chinese art and antiquities.
Morning walk in Fuxing Park, where locals gather to exercise, dance, and play cards. Explore the former French Concession, then wander through Xintiandi and Tianzifang, discovering Shanghai’s traditional lilongs, boutiques, and cafés. Lunch featuring Xiaolongbao, Shanghai’s signature soup dumplings. Visit Shanghai Old Town and the Shanghai Museum, home to an outstanding collection of Chinese art and antiquities.