Is it time you visited China? China culture tour

China culture tour

With 56 plus ethnic groups (including the main Han group) and a landmass spanning 9,600,000 square kilometers, a China culture tour is not for the faint of heart.

Add to this a history of empires, dynasties, and intrigue and it’s easy to understand why a single China culture tour is probably not enough to gain a deep understanding of what makes China simultaneously so diverse and unique. In fact, contemplating how you’ll ‘see it all’ on a single tour can be overwhelming.

But if your heart is set on a culture tour in China, and you want to avoid any of the typical pitfalls, then consider these insider tips for planning and organizing your travel.

China culture tour

#1 Research well: make a China culture tour bucket list

Unless you have unlimited time and budget, research in advance of any China tour is essential. A good place to start is by making your own China culture tour bucket list.

It’s a vast country and there’s simply so much ground to cover, so if you can refine your list before even looking into tour options, you’ll know what meets your needs.

If you’re a first-timer to China, there’s every chance you’ll want to take in at least Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. As China’s modern and ancient capitals, there is so much on offer. Culture hungry? You’ll find enough here to last lifetimes.

Beijing is home to the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, easy access to the Great Wall of China, Temple of Heaven, Confucius Temple and Imperial College. Modern history is available too. Explore Tiananmen Square and Beijing’s Olympic stadium and pool, the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

In Xi’an, the city’s more relaxed style is reflected in its culture and history. Adorned by red lanterns, Xi’an’s appeal is also found in the famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. Xi’an’s City Wall is a step back in time. Restored to excellent condition, it allows locals and travelers to experience what it must have been like to look out over the city hundreds of years ago.

Shanghai is the quintessential modern city, but don’t be deceived. History abounds here too. Take in the Bund, Shanghai History Museum, Yuyuan Gardens, the French Concession and Xin Tian Di (New Spot). Get your fill of shopping at Nanjing Road and the Yu Garden Bazaar, where you can experience the contrast of modern and market wares.

Traveling to Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, you’ll find ample opportunity for insights into China’s culture. The only question to ask is how deep do you want to go?

China culture tour

#2 Plan ahead: travel, tickets, and accommodation

Planning ahead, and getting help to do so, is a wise idea. That means booking travel, tickets, and accommodation well before you arrive. In fact, entry to China is contingent showing where you’re headed.

If you’re not a details person, planning a China culture tour is not the place to start developing those skills! Our tip? Talk to someone who knows how things work. Not only are experienced travel consultants a wealth of knowledge, they understand how to bring all the pieces of a tour together so it flows beautifully from start to finish.

China culture tour

#3 Enrich your China culture tour: travel with a local guide

While you’re on the ground in China, a bilingual local guide is like the glue that binds all the elements together. Knowledgeable on all things culture, history, and philosophy – and a personal connection to local people – a guide enriches a China culture tour in a way that simply can’t be achieved by referring to a guide book. They can help navigate between venues, recommend local favorite restaurants, assist with entry to sights, and much more.

As part of your research, check out tour reviews from other like-minded culture lovers. You can very quickly see where tour companies and guides are delivering.

China culture tour

Choose your own travel style

Whether you’re an experienced traveler or novice, it pays to know the style of travel that suits you.

Do you like to travel solo and enjoy maximum freedom and flexibility? Maybe a private or custom tour is your best option.

Do you enjoy meeting new people on your travels? Perhaps a small group tour is the way to go. Providing the opportunity to engage with others and share the adventure, group tours are more cost effective too.

More experienced adventurers may discount the idea of a group tour, but with the chance to mix with others, and connect with local people too, for those seeking a China culture tour, it’s the ideal way to experience more.

Of course, there are many more ways and destinations in China where culture can be found. From the highest peaks in Tibet to the most remote natural landscapes of unique places like Zhangjiajie and Dunhuang, China’s culture is available for exploration and experience. You may find – as many do – that one China culture tour isn’t enough.

China’s culture and history are rich and diverse and a single tour won’t reveal everything there is. As an experienced China culture tour operator, ChinaTours.com understands how to design and craft tours that meet with the specific needs of each traveler. Whether you seek a custom or private tour or are happy to travel in one of the small group tours (maximum 12 travelers), we understand that what we do influences your travel experience. We also know we’re part of your travel memories. We take our role very seriously and are committed to creating beautiful travel memories for our guests. If you’re ready to enjoy China’s rich history, we’d love an opportunity to work with you to create a travel adventure you’ll remember long after you arrive home.

About the author

ChinaTours.com

The ChinaTours.com blogger team brings you the best and most interesting information and China tour news gathered by our travel consultants, local travel guides, and partner providers. With our mission to create beautiful travel memories on your China tour, our travel guide provides ideas, tips, and insights to help bring your holiday alive.

Featured Tour

8 Days Golden Ring of China


Destination
Beijing Xi’an Shanghai
Tour Type
CustomPrivateSmall Group

8 Days Golden Ring of China

8 Days Golden Ring of China
Genoveva G
1 contribution
Great tour with Linda in Beijing

June 2025 • Friends • Couples

This is our second tour with China tours, and it was fantastic. Linda was our guide in Beijing. She was great! She was very knowledgeable about history and culture and a very kind person. Our group was a mix of young and old, and she made our days in Beijing interesting for everyone. We highly recommend Linda and China tours!
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Written

Tofta2010
1 contribution
Very interesting and inspiring days!

June 2025 • Friends • Couples

Linda did an excellent job to explain and teaching us all about Chinese history and give us a good insight to all the places she showed us. We were a diverse group and even got our three children interred along the way. Thanks Linda!
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Written

Gavin M
1 contribution
100% fabulous experience

June 2025 • Family • Couples

The trip with China Tours was 100% fabulous. Everything about it was exactly as described. The tour guides were all wonderful, the hotels, and transfers (two bullet trains, two domestic flights) were amazing, everything went exactly as planned, and we had a great first trip to China. We did the 13 Days China Wonders & Pandas tour in June 2025. The balance was perfect between sightseeing with the guides and having free time to explore this amazing country at each destination. The high quality of the five guides along the way really made the trip. They were wonderful people without exception: professional, courteous, very knowledgeable, and friendly. The team at China Tours did truly great work in arranging everything, down to the last detail. Thank you very much for making this trip a really great experience!
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Written

Susan B
1 contribution
The only way to visit China!

June 2025 • Couples • Couples

This is a fantastic tour. The tour guides are amazing- so knowledgeable and extremely helpful. The experience of visiting the historic sites has been made far richer than it would’ve been on our own. We have left China with a greater understanding of Chinese history, culture and its people.
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Written

Galia P
1 contribution
Absolutely fantastic guide

June 2025 • Family • Couples

Nancy was absolutely amazing. Knowledgeable, professional, kind and always on time. We had amazing 3 days with her. Recommend!!
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Written

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