Independent · sample itineraries
China Itineraries: 5 to 10 Days, Planned by Local Specialists
Pick a route and travel it your way. We plan it, book the hotels, trains and tickets, and stay on call while you are in China — with a guide only on the days you want one.
- Trip length
- 5 to 10 days
- Sample routes
- 7
- IndependentPer person · 2026 reference price for 2 sharing · excl. international flights
- From $1,400
- Support while you travel
- 24h WhatsApp / WeChat
How Independent works
Your own pace, with the hard parts done.
Independent is for travelers who are happy to walk into a museum or onto a train on their own, but do not want to spend weeks booking China from abroad.
01
Routes built on the rail network
High-speed rail does most of the work between cities. We plan the legs, book the seats and handle 12306 for you; domestic flights only where the distance needs one.
02
Hotels we choose, you confirm
We shortlist hotels for location and how the day will run, you approve them, and we book. Breakfast is usually included.
03
Tickets and tables booked ahead
Entrance tickets for the sights in your route, and restaurant bookings where China needs them made in advance.
04
A guide only where it helps
No full-time guide. Add a private guide for set times or sights — a morning at the Forbidden City, a day on the mountain — and travel the rest on your own.
05
Support while you travel
A group chat with our team on WhatsApp or WeChat, 24 hours a day, and the LocalKey app with your day-by-day plan and bookings.
Itineraries
7 routes to start from.
Each shows two reference prices: Independent, and Private Guided with a guide and car throughout. Any route can be shortened, stretched or rebuilt around you.
Per person · reference price for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included. Your final price depends on hotels, car arrangements and what you ask for — usually a little above this, sometimes more. 2026 reference prices.
What's included
What the Independent price covers.
Included with Independent
- Hotels selected by us, confirmed by you, usually with breakfast
- Transport inside China: high-speed rail, domestic flights and transfers, including 12306 handling
- Entrance tickets for the sights in your itinerary
- Restaurant bookings made ahead where China requires it
- 24h WhatsApp / WeChat support while you travel, plus the LocalKey app
- Guide: No full-time guide; add a guide for set times or sights
- Car: On request
Not included
- International flights — we can book them on request, quoted separately
- Visa fees — many passports can enter China visa-free. Check your passport
- Personal spending and shopping
- Travel insurance
Tipping is not customary in China. There are no tips in your price, and you do not need to tip anyone who looks after you during your trip.
Questions about Independent trips.
The short answers. Anything else, ask in your trip brief.
What does Independent mean on these itineraries?
We plan the route and book the hotels, trains, transfers and tickets; you travel without a full-time guide. You can add a guide for set times or sights, and our team is on WhatsApp or WeChat 24 hours a day while you travel.
What does the “from” price include?
It is a reference price for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included. Your final price depends on hotels, car arrangements and what you ask for — usually a little above this, sometimes more. Hotels, transport inside China, entrance tickets on the route and restaurant bookings are included; visa fees, personal spending and travel insurance are not.
Can you change a route, or plan one from scratch?
Yes. Every itinerary here is a starting shape: shorten it, stretch it, swap a city, change the hotels, or combine two routes into a longer trip. Tell us your dates and what you care about, and a specialist rebuilds it and sends a quote.
Can I add a private guide or a car?
Yes, for the days or sights you choose. If you want a guide and a private car for the whole trip, that is our Private Guided option; each itinerary shows both prices.
See Private GuidedDo I need a visa for China?
Many passports can now enter China visa-free for short trips. Visa fees are not included in the price; check your passport with our visa-free checker.
Check visa-free entryTrip brief
Tell us the route you like.
Name a route above or describe your own: dates, travelers, cities, and the parts you do not want to solve alone. A specialist replies within 24 hours, and the first reply comes from a person. Every trip is quoted individually.