China Highlights Express
The essential first-time itinerary: imperial Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and futuristic Shanghai, linked by high-speed rail.
★★★★★4.9 218 reviews
From US$1,290 US$1,490/per person
Food · 9 days
Culinary China: Dumplings to Dim Sum
Nine days eating across four regional cuisines, with cooking classes, market walks and a Chengdu hotpot night that goes late.
The short version
Culinary China is a 9-day food tour across Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an and Guangzhou covering four of China's eight regional cuisines. It includes three hands-on cooking classes, morning market walks, Sichuan hotpot and a Cantonese dim sum brunch. From US$1,780 per person.
- Four regional cuisines, three cooking classes, nine days.
- Morning market visits with the chef who will cook what you buy.
- Sichuan hotpot with a guide who orders for you.
- Vegetarian and halal versions run without compromising the itinerary.
Day by day
Your day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
What's included and what isn't
Includes
- 8 nights 4-star hotels
- Three cooking classes with ingredients
- Market visits with a chef-guide
- All listed meals (about 60% of the trip)
- All internal flights and trains
Not included
- International flights
- Chinese visa
- Alcoholic drinks
- Meals not listed
Destinations on this route
Xi'an
Shaanxi · 6 tours
Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi Province and where the Silk Road began. Forty kilometres east of the city, 8,000 terracotta warriors have stood in for
Shanghai
Shanghai Municipality · 7 tours
Shanghai rewards two days: one for the colonial Bund and the museums, one for old-town gardens, food and the French Concession. Add a third for a cana
Chengdu
Sichuan · 4 tours
Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and the gateway to the panda reserves, the Leshan Giant Buddha and Jiuzhaigou. In the city itself the Cheng
Guangzhou
Guangdong · 1 tours
Guangzhou is the capital of Guangdong Province and the best city in China to eat. Dim sum halls open at 06:00, roast goose is hung in windows by noon,
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View tourFrequently asked questions
How much food is actually included?
About 60% of meals across the nine days, including every cooking class and the dinners we consider essential to the region — hotpot, dim sum, dumpling banquet.
I am vegetarian. Will this work?
Yes. Buddhist and Taoist vegetarian traditions mean Chinese kitchens handle meat-free cooking well, and the classes adapt fully.
How spicy does it get?
Sichuan food is numbing rather than merely hot, in Chengdu. We brief every kitchen on your tolerance and there is always a mild dish on the table.
Are the markets safe to eat in?
We take you to stalls we use every week, and the chef-guide chooses what you buy and cook. Street food hygiene in these cities is generally good.
Explore next
Day tours
Practical guides
- Do I Need a Visa for China? Requirements, Costs and How to Apply
- China's 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Who Qualifies and How It Works
- Paying in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cards and Cash
- China's High-Speed Rail: How to Book, What It Costs, How Fast It Goes
- Is China Safe for Tourists? Honest Risks and How to Avoid Them
- Best Time to Visit China: Month by Month, Region by Region
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