Alpha Travel
China

Explore China

China unfolds at a scale that humbles every itinerary—the Great Wall threading ridgelines, terracotta armies standing guard outside Xi'an, and Shanghai's Bund reflecting a century of trade and reinvention. Imperial capitals, minority mountain villages, and high-speed rail now link experiences that once demanded months into journeys measured in weeks.

Beijing's Forbidden City, hutong courtyard homes, and Mutianyu wall sections anchor the north. Xi'an's warriors and Muslim Quarter street food reward a flight west. Shanghai layers French Concession plane trees with Pudong futurism and world-class dining. Guilin karsts, Chengdu pandas, and Yunnan's tea mountains extend for repeat visitors. Private guides, visa logistics, and seasonal pacing—spring blossoms, autumn light—transform complexity into curated depth.

Places to visit

Highlights we often weave into bespoke itineraries—each destination below can be tailored to your pace, season, and interests.

  • Beijing

    Forbidden City, hutong lanes, and day trips to the Great Wall—imperial capital history at monumental scale.

    • The Forbidden City, completed in 1420, holds nine thousand rooms of Ming and Qing imperial power behind vermillion walls.
    • Mutianyu and Jinshanling Great Wall sections thread ridgelines built from the third century BC to defend civilisation's northern frontier.
    • Hutong courtyard lanes preserve siheyuan life where rickshaw rides and teahouse mornings reveal Beijing beyond the monuments.
  • Xi'an

    Terracotta warriors and Silk Road heritage in a walled city where ancient China feels immediate and tangible.

    • The Terracotta Army, buried with Qin Shi Huang in 210 BC, stands in pit formations of eight thousand unique clay soldiers.
    • Xi'an's Ming dynasty city walls, among the world's best preserved, invite cycling loops above a Silk Road terminus.
    • Muslim Quarter street food—yangrou paomo and roujiamo—reflects centuries of Central Asian trade through the ancient capital.
  • Shanghai

    Art deco Bund, Pudong skyline, and a dining scene that spans dumpling counters to rooftop mixology.

    • The Bund's 1920s art deco banks face Pudong's Oriental Pearl Tower across the Huangpu—Shanghai's past and future in one vista.
    • Yu Garden's Ming dynasty rockeries and zigzag bridge frame Old City calm before Nanjing Road's neon energy.
    • Michelin dim sum and rooftop bars in the French Concession layer plane-tree shade with China's most cosmopolitan dining scene.

Begin Your Journey

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Schedule a complimentary consultation with an Alpha Travel advisor. Share your vision—we'll design a journey tailored to you.