China: Great Wall to Li River

Program essentials

Great Wall to Li River at a glance

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$4,888 tuition + $100 enrollment fee

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Program Eligibility: Ages 14–18 · Max 30 students
Duration & Location: 14 days · 11 nights; Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Yangshuo & Shanghai
Travel Dates – Summer 2027: June 14 – 27; Dates run from the day the group flight leaves the U.S. to the day the group leaves China. Flying independently? See arrival dates
Supervision: Program Leaders stay on site overnight · Nightly room checks · Median 4.37:1 student-to-staff ratio, maximum 7:1
Included: Accommodation · Meals · Airport transfers & transportation · Scheduled activities · Gratuities · Supervision · 24/7 emergency support line · Xi’an to Guilin flight · Guilin to Shanghai flight · A China-enabled SIM card
Not Included: Flights to and from the program · Travel insurance · Medical insurance with coverage in China · Personal spending money

Visitors in China gather beneath red walls and golden rooftops in the Forbidden City courtyard

A restored section of the Great Wall of China climbing a forested ridge between stone watchtowers

Student travelers laugh with a young boy holding a toy in a train car hallway

Ranks of life-sized Terracotta Army warriors standing in the excavation pit at Xi'an, China

A local craftswoman in Xi'an, China, shows a seated group of travelers how to make a miniature terracotta warrior

Hands finishing a miniature terracotta warrior during a hands-on workshop in Xi'an, China

A craftswoman in Xi'an, China, holding up a miniature terracotta warrior

A student holding up a finished miniature terracotta warrior in Xi'an, China

Brightly coloured embroidered souvenirs hanging at a market stall in the Muslim Quarter of Xi'an, China

Red lanterns lighting a brick gate arch in the Xi'an City Wall, China, at dusk

A cruise boat on the Li River between the limestone karst peaks of Guilin, China, flying a Chinese flag

A traveller at the rail of a Li River cruise boat looking up at the limestone karst cliffs near Guilin, China

Limestone karst peaks and bamboo forest under a bright blue sky above the Li River near Guilin, China

Bamboo rafts drifting down the Li River past bamboo groves and limestone karst peaks near Yangshuo, China

A bamboo raft on the green water of the Li River near Yangshuo, China, framed by willow branches

Travellers walking up stone steps beside the Li River near Guilin, China, with cruise boats and karst peaks behind

A path running beside flooded rice paddies with limestone karst peaks behind, in the Yangshuo countryside, China

The preserved European-style buildings of the Bund on the Huangpu River waterfront in Shanghai, China

Students on a Rustic Pathways program in China holding their wrists together to show handmade Rustic Ties friendship bracelets

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China: Great Wall to Li River is a 14-day travel program for high school students ages 14 to 18. Students walk the Mutianyu Great Wall, assemble a miniature terracotta warrior in Xi’an, and cruise the Li River through karst country to Yangshuo.

The route runs Beijing to Xi’an by high-speed rail, then flies south to Guilin and Yangshuo before closing in Shanghai. Four cities, one high-speed rail leg and two domestic flights across 12 days on the ground.

Rustic Pathways has been operating programs in China since 2007.

China: Great Wall to Li River

China · 14 days · Ages 14–18

★ 4.9 (218 Trustpilot reviews)

Program details last verified October 15, 2026

Scott Ingram

Director of Admissions

At Rustic Pathways since 2018

Not sure yet?

Email Rustic Pathways

Talk to a personal travel advisor: +1 (440) 975-9691

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View program itinerary

What Does a 14-Day Program Include?

A typical teen travel program itinerary. Daily activities may be adjusted for logistics, weather or local conditions.

Depart for China

Day 1 is a travel day. Students on the chaperoned group flight meet a Rustic Pathways flight leader at Los Angeles International Airport and fly to Beijing together on the late evening nonstop.

The chaperoned flight is booked separately from tuition. Ask your advisor about joining it.

If you are not joining the chaperoned flight, your program starts on Day 3. Book your own flights to be on the ground in Beijing on Day 3, and to leave Shanghai on Day 14.

Crossing the Pacific

Day 2 is spent in the air. The flight crosses the International Date Line, so the group leaves Los Angeles late on Day 1 and lands in Beijing on the morning of Day 3.

That is why a 14-day program has 12 days on the ground in China.

Arrive in Beijing

The chaperoned flight lands at Beijing Capital International Airport in the early morning. A Rustic Pathways Program Leader meets every student at the airport, however they have travelled, and takes the group to the hotel. Orientation covers the route and expectations, and the day ends with dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: hotel in central Beijing, shared rooms.

Imperial Beijing

Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, which housed 24 emperors across the Ming and Qing dynasties, with lunch at a local snack restaurant.

The afternoon is a walking tour of the hutongs in Dongcheng District, then Jingshan Park, whose hill looks down over the Forbidden City. Dinner is Beijing roast duck.

Mutianyu Great Wall and the Temple of Heaven

A chairlift carries the group up to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, restored in 1986, where students walk the ramparts between watchtowers and toboggan back down. Mutianyu sits about 90 minutes from central Beijing.

Back in the city, the afternoon is spent at the Temple of Heaven.

Summer Palace and the Train to Xi’an

A morning at the Summer Palace, with a boat ride and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony.

After lunch, the group takes the afternoon high-speed train from Beijing West to Xi’an North, about four and a half hours, arriving in time for dinner.

Lodging: hotel in Xi’an, shared rooms.

Old Xi’an

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an Museum in the morning, then the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque in the afternoon.

Terracotta Army and the City Wall

A morning on Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall, then the Terracotta Army, where Qin Shi Huang’s craftsmen produced more than 8,000 life-sized figures between roughly 220 and 209 BC. A hands-on session follows, where students assemble a miniature warrior.

The day closes with a Hanfu session, dressing in traditional Han Chinese clothing, with makeup included.

Fly South to Guilin

A morning flight from Xi’an to Guilin, landing before lunch, and the rest of the day in Guilin.

Lodging: hotel in Guilin, shared rooms.

Longsheng Rice Terraces

A day trip by private vehicle from Guilin into the mountains at Longsheng, where rice terraces climb the slopes. Students visit an ethnic minority village, eat a lunch of local Longsheng food, and learn to cook bamboo-tube rice with a local family, then return to Guilin for the night.

Li River to Yangshuo

A cruise down the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo between limestone karst peaks, bamboo groves and working rice paddies.

The afternoon is a visit to the Yangshuo countryside.

Lodging: hotel in Yangshuo, a short walk from West Street, shared rooms.

East to Shanghai

A last morning in Yangshuo, then the drive back to Guilin and an evening flight to Shanghai, landing late at night.

Lodging: hotel in Shanghai, shared rooms.

Shanghai

Shanghai Tower and the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, built in 1559 during the Ming dynasty, and the Former French Concession.

Rustic Ties closes the program in the evening.

Depart Shanghai

Program Leaders transfer the group to Shanghai Pudong International Airport for the flight home. Nonstop flights to the United States land the same calendar day.

Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin & Shanghai

What’s Included

Included: accommodation, all meals, in-country transport including the Beijing to Xi’an high-speed rail and both domestic flights, scheduled activities and entrance fees, a China-enabled SIM card for every student, gratuities for guides and drivers, Program Leaders housed on site and available overnight, a 24/7 emergency support line for families, medical support.

Not included: international airfare, including the chaperoned group flight from Los Angeles, which is booked separately, the Chinese visa fee, medical insurance (required), travel insurance (optional), the enrollment fee, personal spending money.

What Are the Four Cities?

The route runs north to south and then east. Each city does a different job in the itinerary, and the travel between them is part of the point. The day numbers below refer to the day-by-day itinerary above.

City	Where it falls	What students do there
Beijing	Day 3 to Day 6 3 nights	Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, a hutong walk and Jingshan Park, the Mutianyu Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. Then high-speed rail south, about four and a half hours.
Xi’an	Day 6 to Day 9 3 nights	The Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an Museum, the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque, the City Wall, the Terracotta Army with a hands-on session assembling a miniature warrior, and a Hanfu dress session. Then a morning flight south.
Guilin and Yangshuo	Day 9 to Day 12 3 nights	A day trip to the Longsheng rice terraces and a minority village, a Li River cruise through the karst peaks to Yangshuo, and the Yangshuo countryside. Then an evening flight east.
Shanghai	Day 12 to Day 14 2 nights	Shanghai Tower, the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, the Former French Concession, and Rustic Ties on the final evening. Fly home from Pudong.

11 nights, 12 days on the ground, one rail leg and two domestic flights. Students who want a single base and a slower pace will find this a lot of movement, and that is worth knowing before you enroll.

Safety

How Does Rustic Pathways Ensure Safety on Great Wall to Li River?

Rustic Pathways uses established safety, supervision, and risk management practices throughout the Great Wall to Li River program.

Staff Supervision

Rustic Pathways maintains a median student-to-staff ratio of 4.37:1, with no program exceeding 7:1.

24/7 Emergency Support

Families receive access to a 24/7 emergency number. Rustic Pathways staff responds immediately to emergencies and provides ongoing updates during active situations.

Medical Oversight

Rustic Pathways’ dedicated Medical Director, Dr. William R. Smith, is a board-certified emergency physician and U.S. Army Colonel with more than 20 years of wilderness medicine experience.

Dr. Smith is available to support Program Leaders and families with medical questions, treatment decisions, and incident escalation.

Transparent Incident Data

Rustic Pathways logs incident reports for all medical and behavioral issues during its programs.

Across the 2014 to 2026 seasons Rustic Pathways logged 4,139 incident reports against 57,079 traveler records. 3,619 of those reports, 87%, were classified as GREEN, the lowest severity.

Trained Leaders

Program Leaders pass background checks through Sterling, a First Advantage company, complete more than 80 hours of total training, including more than 40 hours in person, and hold CPR and First Aid certifications.

Rustic Pathways staff members completed Viristar’s month-long Risk Management for Outdoor Programs certification course.

Local Response Planning

Rustic Pathways teams maintain lists of medical facilities for every major program location.

Rustic Pathways uses vetted, licensed, and insured ground transportation operators and prohibits night driving outside approved urban routes.

How Do Visas, Phones and Transport Work in China?

Visas. Whether you need one depends on the passport you hold. U.S. passport holders do need a Chinese visa for this program. It is applied for in person at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center, so start about two months before departure. Rustic Pathways sends the supporting program documents once a student is enrolled.

Check the requirement for your passport

Passport country

This is a guide, not immigration advice. Entry rules change. Confirm with the Chinese embassy or consulate for your country before you book anything.

Staying in touch. WhatsApp does not work in mainland China. Rustic Pathways gives every student a China-enabled SIM card, and Program Leaders use WeChat, which works normally. Families reach the 24/7 emergency line as they would on any program, and parents get daily photo updates.

Getting around. One high-speed rail leg from Beijing to Xi’an, two domestic flights, and private ground transport throughout. All of it is included in tuition.

What Do Parents Ask?

Is This the Right Fit?

Which students thrive on this program?

Students who like cities and are willing to be beginners in one. The route covers four of them in 12 days, and each is asked to be read rather than just photographed: an imperial capital, the eastern end of the Silk Road, a river valley of limestone peaks, and a port city that turned into a financial center. Curiosity helps more than prior travel does.

Who might this program not suit?

This program has no community service component and carries no service hours. For those looking for community service programs, this program is not for you.

The pace is the other thing to weigh. Four cities in 12 days means early starts, a rail leg and two domestic flights, and most days are long on walking: wall ramparts, the Xi’an city wall, garden and museum grounds.

Flights & Cost

How do flights work?

There is a chaperoned group flight from Los Angeles. A Rustic Pathways flight leader travels with the group from Los Angeles to Beijing and home from Shanghai. It is booked separately from tuition and is not part of the program tuition. Ask your advisor about joining it.

If you are not on the chaperoned flight you fly independently, and your program starts on Day 3, when Rustic Pathways staff meet you in the arrivals hall at Beijing.

The program is open jaw: fly into Beijing (PEK), home out of Shanghai (PVG). Book it as one multi-city ticket rather than two one-ways.

Be on the ground in Beijing on Day 3, and leave Shanghai after 11:00 AM on Day 14. Every U.S. nonstop out of Shanghai lands home the same calendar day.

Three U.S. airports fly nonstop to Beijing: Los Angeles (Air China CA984, United UA771), San Francisco (Air China, United) and New York JFK (Air China CA982). Newark and Miami have no nonstop.

The Los Angeles nonstops leave late in the evening and land in Beijing two calendar days later. That is why Day 1 is the Los Angeles departure, Day 2 is spent in the air, and Day 3 is the Beijing arrival.

International airfare is not included.

What are the arrival and departure dates if my student flies independently?

Dates on this page run from the day the group flight leaves Los Angeles to the day the group leaves China. The group lands in Beijing two days after it leaves the U.S.

Leave the U.S.

Arrive Beijing (PEK)

Leave Shanghai (PVG)

Mon, Jun 14

Wed, Jun 16

Sun, Jun 27

When your student flies independently, book flights that arrive and leave on these dates. Flight times can change, so contact your Personal Travel Advisor before you book.

What’s included in the price?

Included: accommodation, all meals, the Beijing to Xi’an high-speed rail leg, both domestic flights, in-country ground transport, scheduled activities and entrance fees, a China-enabled SIM card, Program Leaders housed on site and available overnight, a 24/7 emergency support line for families.
Not included: international airfare, the Chinese visa fee, medical insurance (required), travel insurance (optional), the enrollment fee, personal spending money.

What is the enrollment fee?

A one-time enrollment fee is charged when you enroll, separate from the program tuition. It covers enrollment processing, pre-departure advising and trip planning.

The fee is non-refundable after the first 24 hours.

What if my family has an emergency and we have to cancel?

March 31 is the date that matters. Cancel up to then and the program tuition is refunded, less the non-refundable enrollment fee and any airfare already booked. The enrollment terms carry the full schedule.

We know some things are outside anyone’s control. If your family faces a serious documented emergency, contact us; we review these situations individually and will do what we reasonably can to help.

Do you offer financial aid or scholarships?

Yes. Payment plans are available for all families, and Rustic Pathways offers both need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. Explore scholarships and financial aid →

Is travel insurance required?

No. Rustic Pathways requires every participant to carry medical insurance with coverage in the destination country. Travel insurance is separate, is not included in Program Tuition, and is strongly recommended rather than required. Rustic Pathways recommends Arch RoamRight. Get a quote from our recommended provider →

Supervision & Safety

Who’s supervising my child?

Rustic Pathways Program Leaders complete a four-month vetting process. Rustic Pathways maintains a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1). All Program Leaders are first-aid certified, and most have led multiple Rustic Pathways programs. Program Leaders are aged 22 to 45.

Rustic Pathways has been operating programs in China since 2007.

Are rooms gender-separated?

Yes. Students room with same-gender peers. Staff stay in adjacent rooms.

What about medical emergencies?

All Program Leaders are first-aid certified. Nearest hospitals are mapped in every location on the route, including Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai. The health and safety team reviews all medical forms before departure and works with families to plan medications, allergies and dietary needs.

Communication

What is Rustic Pathways’ phone and smart device policy?

Rustic Pathways programs follow the Trip Before Scroll policy. Phones and other connected devices are stored securely by program staff during daytime programming and handed back after the final scheduled activity. Students keep them overnight, subject to quiet-hours and lights-out rules.

Students keep their devices on travel days, and medical and accessibility exceptions apply. Read the device policy and contact arrangements.

All accommodations provide Wi-Fi. Note that many familiar apps and sites do not work on mainland Chinese networks, which is why the SIM card above matters more here than on other programs.

How can I reach my child?

Every student is given a China-enabled SIM card, so calls and texts home work normally for the whole program.

Students receive their phones after the final scheduled activity and keep them overnight, subject to quiet-hours, lights-out rules, and connectivity. Families receive expected timing, time-zone guidance, and contact details before departure.

WhatsApp does not work in mainland China, Program Leaders use WeChat.

For non-emergency program concerns, contact the Country Director using the WeChat details provided before departure. For routine help, call the Rustic Pathways office at +1 440-975-9691 during published office hours. For an urgent matter at any time, use the 24/7 emergency number in the pre-departure materials.

If a student needs to contact home during programming for an urgent matter, medical need, significant personal concern, or family situation, a Program Leader will help arrange communication as soon as circumstances reasonably allow.

Group & Logistics

How big is the group and how old are the participants?

The maximum group size on this program is 30 students. Rustic Pathways maintains a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1).

The program is open to students ages 14 to 18. Most students on Rustic Pathways summer programs are 15 to 17. Program Leaders group similarly-aged students together for activities.

Can international (non-U.S.) students join this program?

Yes. Rustic Pathways programs are open to students worldwide, with participants from 53 countries each year. International students fly independently to Beijing, where Rustic Pathways coordinates pickup. Visa requirements for China vary by passport, so contact a travel advisor for guidance.

Do students come with friends, or on their own?

Most students join without knowing anyone. At least 70% travel solo. No experience is needed, and most are nervous at first.

Program Leaders run the First Friend Method, the Rustic Pathways approach to making sure every student forms at least one real connection in the first 48 hours. It is deliberate, not left to chance.

What is the accommodation like?

Students stay in hotels throughout, in gender-separated shared rooms. Rustic Pathways Program Leaders are housed on site and available overnight. The route uses 11 hotel nights across Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai.

Can friends room together?

Yes. Roommate requests are accepted during enrollment.

Program Details

Will my child have unsupervised time?

Students have structured independence during free time with staff nearby. There is no fully unsupervised time in public areas.

Can you accommodate dietary needs and food allergies?

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and common dietary restrictions are accommodated with advance notice. All dietary needs are collected during enrollment and shared with meal providers. Chinese regional cuisine varies widely across this route, and Program Leaders order for the group with dietary needs in hand.

How much spending money?

$150 to $200 per week is a reasonable amount for souvenirs, snacks and anything students want outside the included meals and activities.

Mobile payment is close to universal in China and foreign cards are not accepted everywhere. Program Leaders help students exchange cash and set up payment on arrival.

Do we need a visa?

It depends on the passport. U.S. passport holders do need a Chinese visa for this program.

China’s visa-free transit does not help here. It requires onward travel to a third country, and this program flies home to the United States. The visa is applied for in person at a Chinese Visa Application Service Center, so start about two months before departure. Rustic Pathways sends the supporting program documents once a student is enrolled.

Check your passport country on this page, then confirm with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate.

Is there community service on this program?

No. This program has no community service component and carries no service hours. It is built around history, landscape and the four cities on the route.

If service hours are what you are after, tell an advisor and they will point you at a Rustic Pathways program that carries them. China’s service program, Wonders of China, is not scheduled to run.

Support

What if my child gets homesick?

Homesickness can be common over the first few days, and Rustic Pathways is well prepared for it. Read how Rustic Pathways combats homesickness →

Do you support neurodiverse students?

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students and works with families to provide appropriate support. Share any relevant information during enrollment so staff can prepare. Learn about the Rustic Pathways approach to inclusion →