Catalog Tour

Mandarin Mastery and Ancient Wonders

This 11-day tour through China moves between three cities that each tell a different chapter of the country's story — Beijing's imperial grandeur, Xi'an's ancient frontier, and Shanghai's layered modernity — while weaving Mandarin language practice into the daily rhythm of the trip. The through-line is language in context: students aren't just sightseeing, they're using and absorbing Chinese across every setting, from ordering at a local restaurant to practicing characters during a hands-on calligraphy lesson. That calligraphy session is the kind of moment that stays with students long after they've come home, brush in hand, working out the logic of a writing system with thousands of years of continuous use behind it.

Duration11 days · 10 nights
CountriesChina
Cities3 stops
Group size6 – 80+ travelers
Best fitCustom & private
What makes us different
  • City-center hotels
  • Authentic local meals
  • Career Tour Directors
  • 5.0★ on Trustpilot
  • Family-owned since 1992
Temple of Heaven
First Emperor Qin's Tomb, Xi'an
Ancient Chinese Architecture
The Forbidden City, Beijing
Shanghai Skyline

Arrival in Beijing

  • Arrival transfer
  • Services of a guide escort throughout your stay in Beijing

Dinner

Overnight

What teachers say

Verified by teachers — two ways.

On the left, the public Trustpilot reviews any group leader can write — and any future group leader can read. On the right, quotes from the private post-tour evaluation that every group leader fills out after their trip ends. See all teacher evaluations.

Reviews on Trustpilot are public and verified. Trustpilot prohibits companies from paying to have them removed — so what teachers say here is exactly what teachers said about traveling with Passports.

Read every review on Trustpilot
Overall

The hotels, restaurants, bus driver, and local guides were all truly amazing. The itinerary was phenomenal. Appropriate time frames for every activity. There was a great balance between structured activities and free time. The students had such an enjoyable experience!

Passports post-tour evaluation · Group leader · April 2026
Overall

Compared to stories I have heard about other companies, this was an absolutely incredible experience. I have nothing to add to make the experience better as the entire experience, from pre-planning to post-trip, was incredible. I will never use another company and will highly recommend Passports for everyone.

Passports post-tour evaluation · Group leader · March 2026
Get a quote for Mandarin Mastery and Ancient Wonders

Our Tour Advisors will customize this tour for your group.

Pick your dates, your departure city, your group size — your Tour Advisor handles the rest. Zero deposit until you’re ready.

1-800-332-7277